Planning board approves conditional use permit for El Patron Tire Shop with parking conditions

The Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board voted to approve a conditional use permit allowing automotive sales at the property legally described as Rio Rancho Estates Unit 16, Block P, Lot 1, after staff presented a revised site plan and conditions intended to limit neighborhood impact.

Chris Benson, planner with the City of Rio Rancho, told the board the applicant, El Patron Tire Shop LLC (agent Jorge Escobedo), submitted a revised site plan that reduced dealership display spaces to three, added designated and striped employee parking at the rear of the lot, and identified an area for outdoor tire storage. Benson said staff found the project would have minimal impact on adjacent neighborhoods and recommended approval with findings and conditions, including compliance with Rio Rancho Municipal Code section 154.76 on off-street parking and a zoning inspection linked to the applicant’s business-license update.

When the board asked whether the new spaces must be paved or only striped, Benson said the city would inspect the site to ensure the spaces meet minimum size and striping requirements and that staff could require paving if warranted. “At a minimum, we’re going to make sure that they meet the size requirements,” Benson said, adding that the inspection would determine whether striping or another measure is acceptable.

No members of the public signed up to speak for or against the item. A board member moved to approve Item 4 “as presented with revisions,” the motion was seconded, the clerk conducted a roll call and the motion passed.

The conditional use permit approval includes the staff-recommended findings and conditions; staff will perform a zoning inspection at the time the applicant updates the business license to confirm compliance with the off-street parking code.

The board took the vote at the meeting and the item was approved; no appeal timeline was discussed during the presentation.