Board approves Northern Exposure preliminary plat and related variances with conditions

The Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board on March 24 approved the Northern Exposure preliminary plat and approved one of two related subdivision variances after staff presentations and the applicant’s explanations.

Planner Michelle Castillo presented three linked items: two subdivision-variance requests for stub streets (Arctic Avenue and Avalanche Drive) and the Northern Exposure preliminary plat for Unit 8, Block 48 (creating 72 single-family lots and multiple tracts). Staff recommended approval of a variance for Arctic Avenue with findings and conditions, recommended denial of the Avalanche Drive variance because the design could be improved by connecting to 9th Avenue, and recommended approval of the preliminary plat with findings and conditions.

An applicant representative (no name given on the record) explained the design decisions and cited the International Fire Code appendix D for fire apparatus access, noting the proposed stub streets are shorter than the code’s dead-end threshold and that the stubs would facilitate future water and sewer looping for properties south of 9th Avenue. The applicant also said much of the land west of Avalanche is owned by Skafka and will not be developed, and that the stub could be needed to provide utility stubs rather than vehicular access.

After board discussion about whether the Avalanche stub improved the overall subdivision layout, the board approved the Arctic Avenue variance, and then approved the remaining items: the second variance and the preliminary plat with the findings and conditions outlined by staff.

The approvals are conditioned on standard engineering, utility coordination (including agreements with Skafka where work would require access), and meeting municipal design standards for dead-end streets and turnaround diameters.

The board moved and seconded each item in turn and approved the motions on roll call.