Planning board approves extension for High Range 5 preliminary plat after resident complaint

The Rio Rancho Planning and Zoning Board on March 24 approved a preliminary-plat extension for the High Range 5 subdivision, allowing the developer more time to finalize improvement plans and submit a final plat by June if no further revisions are required.

Planner staff told the board the High Range 5 property encompasses about 75.20 acres and would be platted into 340 single-family lots, 166 of which were included in phase 1. Staff recommended the extension with findings and conditions, noting the original preliminary plat was approved in June 2022 and has received subsequent amendments and extensions.

Douglas Chubin, project manager for Cohen Van Lew, sworn in as the applicant’s representative, said LGI Homes was prepared to move forward. "Within the next 10 business days, we will be resubmitting improvement plans for phase 2," Chubin said, and anticipated submitting the final plat by June pending any remaining revisions.

During public comment, resident Howard Birdsong of Covered Wagon Road urged the board to delay approval until the developer corrected construction-site controls. "They didn't properly put up the barrier to prevent sand from getting into the High Range neighborhood," Birdsong said, adding that sand and mud have mixed into residents' landscaping and an adjacent park.

The board then moved to approve the extension as presented. A roll-call vote recorded affirmative votes from the vice chair and a majority of board members, and the motion passed.

The extension grants the applicant additional review time; staff will track the applicant’s resubmittal and any required conditions before final plat submittal.