By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — The Luxe has its zoning. The Rio Rancho City Council voted 5-1 Thursday to rezone a Lomas Encantadas corner and a slice of neighborhood park for 55 apartments and two small shops. Fourteen residents had lined up to ask councilors to kill it.
Councilors David Mann, Karissa Culbreath, Jeremy Lenentine, Deb Dapson and Nicole List voted yes. Bob Tyler, whose District 3 includes the neighborhood, cast the lone no. The project sits at Camino Encantadas and Camino Venada NE. The new zoning takes effect 10 days after adoption.
Why the yes votes
For most of the council, the real question was what could go on the corner instead. The commercial lot has allowed hotels, gas stations, bars and gyms with no hearing at all since 2004, Development Services Director Amy Rincon said. Under the new zoning, any change of more than 10% to the approved site plan has to come back to the council…