Rio Rancho City Zoning Code

One single-family dwelling unit per lot; provided such dwelling unit meets the design standards of Article III, Section 154.60;

Accessory buildings or structures as defined in Article III, Section 154.70(A), including stable facilities for the housing and maintenance of horses but not to include structures for other types of domestic livestock or fowl; such stable facilities greater than 600 square feet may be exempt from using the same construction materials and having the same facade as the primary structure, but still shall be similar in color;

Accessory living space; as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Horses are allowed by the following criteria:

Noncommercial gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts and greenhouses;

Parks, open spaces, recreational parks, and public facilities;

Home occupations;

Construction trailers; as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Temporary (emergency, construction, or repair) residences as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Family child care facility with a capacity of six or less;

Second kitchen. A second kitchen is permitted and may be located within the primary residence or accessory dwelling unit, but not both;

Model home or sales office;

Community residential care facility up to 10 persons, including any staff residents, providing all city regulations are met as set forth in Chapter 120;

Public utilities;

Churches, other places of worship, and incidental facilities;

Amateur radio antenna;

Hobby breeders or animal foster care providers as regulated by Chapters 90 and 116;

Accessory dwelling unit; as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Short-term rental unit, as defined and regulated in Chapter 123.

Family child care facility with a capacity of seven or more.

Hobby breeders and animal foster care providers as per conditions listed under the R-1 Single-Family Residential District.

Commercial (for profit) boarding of horses as per relevant requirements listed under Chapter 116.

Transfer of horse stable rights (TSR) permit, in accordance with Section 154.78(A), to allow neighboring properties the ability to transfer horse stabling rights (TSRs) between properties, provided:

One single-family dwelling unit per lot; provided such dwelling unit meets the design standards of Article III, Section 154.60;

Accessory buildings or structures, as defined in Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Accessory living space, as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Noncommercial gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts and greenhouses;

Parks, open spaces, recreational parks, and public facilities;

Home occupations;

Construction trailers, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Temporary (emergency, construction, or repair) residences, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Family child care facility with a capacity of six or less;

Second kitchen. A second kitchen is permitted and may be located within the primary residence or accessory dwelling unit, but not both;

Model home or sales office, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(A);

Community residential care facility up to 10 persons, including any staff residents, providing all city regulations are met as set forth in Chapter 120;

Public utilities, including electric facilities including, but not limited to, substations, switching stations and generation;

Churches and other places of worship, Sunday school buildings, and parish houses;

Amateur radio antenna;

Accessory dwelling unit; as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Short-term rental unit, as defined and regulated in Chapter 123.

Hospitals and private institutions of an educational nature;

Family child care facility with a capacity of seven or more;

Hobby breeders or animal foster care providers as regulated by Chapters 90 and 116, provided the lot has an area appropriate to the type and size of the animals being bred.

One single-family dwelling unit per lot; provided such dwelling unit meets the design standards of Article III, Section 154.60;

Accessory buildings or structures, as defined in Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Accessory living space as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Noncommercial gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts and greenhouses;

Parks, open spaces, recreational parks, and public facilities;

Home occupations;

Construction trailers, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Temporary (emergency, construction, or repair) residences, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Family child care facility with a capacity of six or less;

Second kitchen. A second kitchen is permitted and may be located within the primary residence or accessory dwelling unit, but not both;

Model home or sales office, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(A);

Community residential care facility up to 10 persons, including any staff residents providing all city regulations are met as set forth in Chapter 120;

Public utilities, including electric facilities including, but not limited to, substations, switching stations and generation;

Churches and other places of worship, Sunday school buildings, and parish houses;

Amateur radio antenna;

Accessory dwelling unit; as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Short-term rental unit, as defined and regulated in Chapter 123.

Hospitals and private institutions of an educational nature;

Family child care facility with a capacity of seven or more;

Hobby breeders or animal foster care providers as regulated by Chapters 90 and 116, provided the lot has an area appropriate to the type and size of the animals being bred.

One single-family dwelling unit per lot; provided such dwelling unit meets the design standards of Section 154.60;

Single-family attached or detached dwelling units; provided such dwelling unit(s) meets the design standards of Article III, Section 154.60;

Townhome, patio home, or similar development provided all city regulations are met;

Accessory buildings or structures, as defined in Section 154.70(A);

Accessory living space as defined in Sections 154.03 and 154.70(A);

Noncommercial gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts, and greenhouses;

Parks, open spaces, recreational parks, and public facilities;

Home occupations;

Construction trailers, as defined in Section 154.75(C);

Temporary (emergency, construction, or repair) residences, as defined in Section 154.75(C);

Family child care facility with a capacity of six or less;

Second kitchen. A second kitchen is permitted and may be located within the primary residence or accessory dwelling unit, but not both.

Model home or sales office, as defined in Section 154.75(A);

Community residential care facility up to 10 persons, including any staff residents providing all city regulations are met as set forth in Chapter 120;

Public utilities; including electric facilities including, but not limited to, substations, switching stations and generation;

Churches and other places of worship, Sunday school buildings, and parish houses;

Amateur radio antenna;

Accessory dwelling unit; as defined in Sections 154.03 and 154.70(A);

Short-term rental unit, as defined and regulated in Chapter 123.

Hospital and private institutions of an educational nature;

Family child care facility with a capacity of seven or more;

Community residential care facility up to 18 persons, including any staff residents, providing all city regulations are met;

Senior transitional care facilities, senior living facility, and/or other similar facilities up to 35 dwelling units per acre and up to 50 feet in height;

Hobby breeders or animal foster care providers as regulated by Chapters 90 and 116; provided the lot has an area appropriate to the type and size of the animals being bred;

Multifamily dwellings, provided there are not more than 26 units per acre, with the site plan reviewed and approved by the Governing Body.

One single-family dwelling unit per lot; provided such dwelling unit meets the design standards of Article III, Section 154.60;

Accessory buildings or structures, as defined in Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Accessory living space, as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Noncommercial gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts and greenhouses;

Parks, open spaces, recreational parks, and public facilities;

Home occupations;

Construction trailers, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Temporary (emergency, construction, or repair) residences, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Family child care facility with a capacity of six or less;

Second kitchen. A second kitchen is permitted and may be located within the primary residence or accessory dwelling unit, but not both;

Model home or sales office, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(A);

Community residential care facility up to 10 persons, including any staff residents providing all city regulations are met as set forth in Chapter 120;

Public utilities, including electric facilities including, but not limited to, substations, switching stations and generation;

Churches and other places of worship, Sunday school buildings, and parish houses;

Amateur radio antenna;

Accessory dwelling unit; as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Short-term rental unit, as defined and regulated in Chapter 123.

Hospitals and private institutions of an educational nature;

Family child care facility with a capacity of seven or more;

Hobby breeders or animal foster care providers as regulated by Chapters 90 and 116, provided the lot has an area appropriate to the type and size of the animals being bred.

One single-family dwelling unit per lot; provided such dwelling unit meets the design standards of Article III, Section 154.60;

Accessory buildings or structures, as defined in Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Accessory living space, as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70 (A);

Noncommercial gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts and greenhouses;

Parks, open spaces, recreational parks, and public facilities;

Home occupations;

Construction trailers, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Temporary (emergency, construction, or repair) residences, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Family child care facility with a capacity of six or less;

Second kitchen. A second kitchen is permitted and may be located within the primary residence or accessory dwelling unit, but not both;

Model home or sales office, as defined in Article III, 154.75(A);

Community residential care facility up to 10 persons, including any staff residents, providing all city regulations are met as set forth in Chapter 120;

Public utilities, including electric facilities including, but not limited to, substations, switching stations and generation;

Churches and other places of worship, Sunday school buildings, and parish houses;

Amateur radio antenna;

Accessory dwelling unit; as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Short-term rental unit, as defined and regulated in Chapter 123.

Hospitals and private institutions of an educational nature;

Family child care facility with a capacity of seven or more;

Hobby breeders or animal foster care providers as regulated by Chapters 90 and 116, provided the lot has an area appropriate to the type and size of the animals being bred.

One single-family dwelling unit per lot; provided such dwelling unit meets the design standards of Section 154.60;

Single-family attached or detached dwelling units; provided such dwelling units meet the design standards of Section 154.60;

Multiple-family dwelling units for sale or rent that are attached are allowed up to a density of 50 dwelling units/acre;

Senior transitional care or living facilities allowed up to a density of 50 dwelling units/acre;

Townhome, patio home, or similar development provided all city regulations are met;

Accessory buildings or structures, as defined in Section 154.70(A);

Accessory living space; as defined in Sections 154.03 and 154.70(A);

Noncommercial gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts, and greenhouses;

Parks, open spaces, recreational parks, and public facilities;

Home occupations;

Construction trailers, as defined in Section 154.75(C);

Temporary (emergency, construction, and repair) residences, as defined in Section 154.75(C);

Family child care facility with a capacity of six or less;

Second kitchen;

Model home or sales office, as defined in Section 154.75(A);

Community residential care facility up to 10 persons, including any staff residents, providing all city regulations are met as set forth in Chapter 120;

Churches and other places of worship, Sunday school buildings, and parish houses;

Amateur radio antenna;

Public utilities, electric facilities including, but not limited to, substations, switching stations and generation;

Accessory dwelling unit; as defined in Sections 154.03 and 154.70(A).

Hospitals and private institutions of an educational nature;

Family child care facility with a capacity of seven or more;

Hobby breeders or animal foster care providers as regulated by Chapters 90 and 116;

Community residential care facility up to 18 persons, including any staff residents, providing all city regulations are met.

One mobile home per lot;

Accessory buildings or structures but not to include structures for domestic livestock or fowl;

Noncommercial gardens, swimming pools, and tennis courts;

Parks, open spaces, and public utilities; and

Churches and other places of worship, Sunday school buildings, and parish houses.

Hospitals and private institutions of an educational nature;

Family child care facility with a capacity of seven or more;

Hobby breeders or animal foster care providers as regulated by Chapters 90 and 116, provided the lot has an area appropriate to the type and size of the animals being bred.

Amateur radio antenna, up to 65 feet in height from grade;

Banks and other financial institutions;

Churches, Sunday school and parish house, incidental facilities;

Clubhouses, fraternal organization, non-profit public service;

Coffee shop, cafe, newsstand; provided, that the business is incidental within a building or on a site owned in common with a primary office use;

Fire stations, police stations and other public buildings;

Hospitals and private institutions of an educational nature and similar institutions;

Libraries, museums, cultural institutions;

Manager/caretaker residential uses within the structure;

Medical supplies and services, drug prescription, prosthetic supplies and dental/medical lab;

Nursery schools and daycare facilities;

Offices and office buildings;

Park and ride facilities, parking lots, garages;

Personal services – beauty/barber shops, fitness centers, laundry/dry cleaning, tailor/dressmaking, shoe repair, tanning/manicure salon;

Public facilities;

Public utilities/electric facilities;

Radio or television studios;

Restaurants, bars, lounges, coffee/tea rooms, delicatessens, patio/al fresco dining facilities; provided, that the business is incidental within a building or on a site owned in common with a primary office use;

Schools, public, K-12;

Senior transitional care facility;

Storage structure or yard for equipment.

Amateur radio antenna over 65 feet in height from grade;

Coffee shop, cafe, newsstand; provided, that there shall be no drive-in or drive-up establishments;

Community residential care facilities;

Offices and office buildings that exceed the height limits of this district;

Residential uses as secondary use or above the first floor; provided, that the density shall not exceed 26 dwelling units per acre;

Restaurants, bars, lounges, coffee/tea rooms, delicatessens, newsstands, patio/al fresco dining facilities; provided, that there shall be no drive-in or drive-up establishments;

Stores for the sale of retail goods, products, services;

Temporary structures and enclosures used in construction of a building and used for storage of equipment and material as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(D).

Bakeries, pastry and confectioneries for retail sales;

Banks and other financial institutions;

Churches, Sunday school and parish house, incidental facilities;

Clubhouses, fraternal organization, non-profit public service;

Medical complexes, professional offices (medical and dental), veterinarians, offices/clinics; provided, that there are no boarding kennels;

Nursery schools and daycare facilities;

Parks, recreational parks, open spaces, public facilities;

Photocopying and blueprinting, shipping and messenger service;

Public utilities/electric facilities;

Repair shops – electrical, radio, and television appliances, keys and similar articles;

Residential uses as secondary use or above the first floor.

Restaurants, bars, lounges, coffee/tea rooms, delicatessens, patio/al fresco dining facilities; provided, that:

Schools, public, K-12;

Shops – dressmaking, tailoring, laundry, dry cleaning, photo, pet, and similar trades;

Stores for the sale of retail goods, products, and services; provided, that gasoline stations are not permitted;

Undertaking establishments.

Research and development offices;

Schools, private, K-12, college, trade schools;

Self-storage facilities;

Temporary structures and enclosures used in construction of a building and used for storage of equipment and material as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(D)(1).

Auditoriums, bowling alleys, billiards, dance hall, theaters, skating rinks, indoor entertainment;

Auto repair, minor;

Bakeries, pastry and confectioneries for retail sales;

Banks and other financial institutions;

Churches, Sunday school and parish house, incidental facilities;

Clubhouses, buildings for fraternal organizations, nonprofit public service;

Day spa;

Drive-in, drive-through window restaurants, convenience stores;

Gasoline service stations, convenience stores, and car washes;

Hospitals and private institutions of an educational nature and similar institutions;

Hotel/motel;

Manager/caretaker residential uses within structures;

Medical complexes, professional offices (medical and dental), veterinarians, offices/clinics;

Nursery schools and daycare facilities;

Nursing homes, senior transitional living and care facilities;

Offices and office buildings;

Offset press printing;

Outside storage, as an accessory use, as defined in Article III, Section 154.71;

Park and ride facilities, parking lots, garages;

Parks, recreational parks and open spaces, public facilities;

Permanent outdoor sales display, as defined in Article III, Section 154.72;

Photocopying and blueprinting, shipping and messenger service;

Public facilities;

Public utilities, electric facilities;

Repair shops – electrical, radio, and television appliances, keys, and similar articles;

Residential uses as secondary use or above the first floor; provided, that density does not exceed 50 dwelling units per acre;

Restaurants, bars, lounges, coffee/tea rooms, delicatessens, patio/al fresco dining facilities;

Schools, private, K-12, college, trade schools;

Schools, public, K-12;

Shops – dressmaking, tailoring, laundry, dry cleaning, photo, pet, and similar trades;

Stores for the sale of retail goods, products, and services;

Temporary structures and enclosures used in construction of a building and used for storage of equipment and material as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(D)(1);

Undertaking establishments.

Auto repair, major; provided, that:

Automotive dealers, motorcycle dealers;

Boarding kennels or pet shelters;

Recycling collection centers as defined in Article III, Section 154.74;

Self-storage facilities;

Temporary model home/sales office as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(B).

Amateur radio antenna, up to 65 feet in height from grade;

Auditoriums, bowling alleys, billiards, dance hall, theaters, skating rinks, indoor entertainment;

Auto repair, major; provided, that:

Auto repair, minor;

Automotive dealers, motorcycle dealers;

Bakeries, pastry and confectioneries for retail sales;

Banks and other financial institutions;

Churches, Sunday school and parish house, incidental facilities;

Clubhouses, buildings for fraternal organizations, nonprofit public service organizations;

Day spa;

Drive-in, drive-through window restaurants, convenience stores;

Gasoline service stations, convenience stores, and car washes;

Hospitals and private institutions of an educational nature and similar institutions;

Hotel/motel;

Lumberyards;

Machinery, farm sales, repairing and overhauling; provided, that concealed storage and repair area are utilized;

Manager/caretaker residential uses within the structure;

Medical complexes, professional offices (medical and dental), veterinarians, offices/clinics;

Medical supplies and services, drug prescription, prosthetic supplies and dental/medical lab;

Nursery schools and daycare facilities;

Nursing homes, senior transitional living and care facilities and similar institutions;

Offices and office buildings;

Offset press printing;

Outside storage, as an accessory use, as defined in Article III, Section 154.71;

Park and ride facilities, parking lots, garages;

Parks, recreational parks and open spaces, public facilities;

Permanent outdoor sales displays, provided they meet regulations defined in Article III, Section 154.72;

Photocopying and blueprinting, shipping and messenger service;

Public facilities;

Public utilities, electric facilities;

Radio or television studios;

Recycling collection centers; provided, that they are an accessory use, and as defined in Article III, Section 154.74;

Repair shops – electrical, radio, and television appliances, keys, and similar articles;

Residential uses as secondary use or above the first floor; provided, that:

Restaurants, bars, lounges, coffee/tea rooms, delicatessens, patio/al fresco dining facilities;

Sales of sheet metal products;

Schools, private, K-12, college, trade schools;

Schools, public, K-12;

Self-storage facilities;

Shops – dressmaking, tailoring, laundry, dry cleaning, photo, pet, and similar trades;

Stores for the sale of retail goods, products, and services;

Temporary model home/sales office as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(B);

Temporary structures and enclosures used in construction of a building and used for storage of equipment and material as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(D);

Undertaking establishments;

Warehouse and indoor storage;

Wholesale commercial.

Auto wrecking, salvage, and contractor’s yards, provided:

Boarding kennels or pet shelters;

Light industrial;

Light manufacturing;

Office uses that exceed the height limits of this district;

Research and development office;

Truck and trailer rentals.

Adults-only bookstores, adults-only motion picture theaters, and adult entertainment centers; provided, that such uses meet the requirements and/or restrictions set forth in Chapter 111;

Amateur radio antenna up to and over 65 feet in height from grade;

Auditoriums, bowling alleys, billiard or pool halls, dance halls, theaters, skating rinks, and other indoor entertainment establishments;

Auto repair, major; provided, that:

Auto repair, minor;

Automotive dealers, motorcycle dealers;

Bakeries, pastry and confectioneries for retail sales;

Banks and office buildings;

Boarding kennels or pet shelters;

Churches, Sunday school and parish house, incidental facilities;

Clubhouses, buildings for fraternal organizations, nonprofit public service organizations;

Community residential care facilities;

Concrete batching plants, concrete products, provided:

Drive-in or drive-up window restaurants, convenience stores;

Gasoline service stations, convenience stores, and car washes;

Hospitals and private institutions of an educational nature and similar institutions;

Hotel/motel;

Indoor shooting range;

Industrial;

Laboratories, research, and experimental stations;

Light industrial;

Light manufacturing;

Lumberyards;

Machinery, farm sales, repairing and overhauling; provided, that concealed storage and repair area is utilized;

Manager/caretaker residential uses within the structures;

Manufacturing;

Medical supplies and services, drug prescription, prosthetic supplies and dental/medical lab;

Nursing homes, senior transitional living and care facilities and similar institutions;

Nursery schools and daycare facilities;

Offset press printing;

Outside storage, as a primary use, provided the regulations of Article III, Section 154.71 are met;

Outside storage, as an accessory use, as defined in Article III, Section 154.71;

Parks, recreational parks and open spaces, public facilities;

Park and ride facilities, parking lots, garages;

Permanent outdoor sales displays, provided they meet regulations defined in Article III, Section 154.72;

Photocopying and blueprinting, shipping and messenger service;

Public utilities;

Public facilities;

Recycling collection centers; provided, that they are an accessory use, as described in Article III, Section 154.74;

Repair shops – electrical, radio, and television appliances, keys, and similar articles;

Residential uses as secondary use or above the first floor.

Restaurants, bars, lounges, coffee/tea rooms, delicatessens, patio/al fresco dining facilities;

Sales of sheet metal products;

Schools, private, K-12, college, trade schools;

Schools, public, K-12;

Self-storage facilities;

Shops – dressmaking, tailoring, laundry, dry cleaning, photo, pet, and similar trades;

Stores for the sale of retail goods, products, and services;

Temporary structures and enclosures used in construction of a building and used for storage of equipment and material as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(D);

Tire recapping or retreading;

Truck and trailer rentals;

Warehouse and indoor storage;

Wholesale commercial;

Undertaking establishments.

All activities are conducted in an enclosed building or are enclosed by a solid wall or solid fence at least eight feet high; and

Inoperative automobile bodies or other material may be stacked to a height that does not exceed the height of the required fence or wall.

Encourage a greater intensity of development in order to attract the people and commerce necessary to create a vibrant and diverse urban center;

Encourage a blending of residential, civic, commercial and office uses in close proximity to each other with active commercial and retail uses along arterial and collector street frontages, and encourage residential uses above the ground floor or behind a commercial building that fronts the street;

Encourage a mixture of service and employment uses so that residents will have the opportunity to work as well as shop and play within walking distance from their houses;

Encourage planning, design and detailing that reflects the needs of pedestrians, establishes multimodal circulation opportunities, and creates memorable civic spaces.

Plans should reflect the intent of the comprehensive plan;

Plans should comply with the intent and requirements of a mix of land uses set forth herein and not be used for a single land use;

The total area of the district must be a minimum of two acres, but may be smaller with an approved conditional use permit;

Plans must include residential and nonresidential uses within or in close proximity to the district with shared access and adequate pedestrian linkages;

Plans may also include civic or community building, public utility and/or public spaces within the district.

Property zoned MU-A requires the approval of a master plan and development guidelines for the district prior to development or redevelopment of the land. An applicant wishing to develop property zoned MU-A must submit a master plan and design and development guidelines for the mixed use development to the Director of Development Services for a preliminary review;

DSD will provide potential applicants with a checklist of required items consistent with those for the Special Use Zone;

Following preliminary review by DSD, the application will be subject to the review and approval of the Planning and Zoning Board;

Upon approval, the master plan and accompanying documents will be used as the official guide for future development within the district;

Site development within the district will require the submission of a site development permit application to DSD for approval. A site development plan will include items from a list provided by DSD and consistent with those for the Special Use Zone. The site development permit application will be evaluated based on compliance with the approved master plan and guidelines.

Amateur radio antenna, up to 65 feet in height from grade;

Auditoriums, bowling alleys, billiard or pool halls, dance halls, theaters and other indoor entertainment establishments;

Bakeries, pastry and confectioneries for retail sales;

Banks and financial institutions;

Bed and breakfast;

Bicycle shops (sale and repair);

Churches, Sunday school and parish house, incidental facilities;

Clubhouses, fraternal organization, non-profit public service organizations;

Coffee shop, cafe, newsstand; provided, that the business is incidental within a building or on a site owned in common with a primary office use;

Community or conference center;

Family child care facility with a capacity of six or less;

Fire stations, police stations and other public buildings;

Home occupations;

Hospitals and private institutions of an educational nature and similar institutions;

Hotel/motel;

Libraries, museums, cultural institutions;

Live entertainment accessory to an eating or drinking establishment;

Live/work units;

Manager/caretaker residential uses within the structure;

Medical complexes, professional offices (medical and dental), veterinarians, offices/clinics; provided, that there are no boarding kennels;

Medical supplies and services, drug prescription, prosthetic supplies and dental/medical lab;

Nursery schools and daycare facilities;

Offices and office buildings;

Parks, recreational parks, open spaces, public facilities;

Personal services – beauty/barber shops, fitness centers, laundry/dry cleaning, tailor/dressmaking, shoe repair, tanning/manicure salon;

Photocopying and blueprinting, shipping and messenger service;

Public facilities;

Public utilities/electric facilities;

Repair shops – electrical, radio, and television appliances, keys and similar articles;

Residential, multi-family;

Residential uses as secondary use or above the first floor;

Restaurants, bars, lounges, coffee/tea rooms, patio/al fresco dining facilities;

Schools, public, K-12;

Senior transitional care facility;

Shops – dressmaking, tailoring, laundry, dry cleaning, photo, pet, and similar trades;

Stores for the sale of retail goods, products, services;

Undertaking establishments.

Commercial parking lots;

Family child care with a capacity of seven or more;

Park and ride facilities, and parking lots;

Schools, private, K-12, college, trade schools;

Stores for the sale of retail goods, products, and services greater than 15,000 square feet;

Tattoo and body piercing shops;

Townhomes and row houses.

It is the intent of this section to create a Central Business District (CBD) to provide a mixed land use environment consisting of concentrated retail, commercial, government, recreational and entertainment, residential and office uses that are intended to serve as a destination and service the needs of the regional trade area. The CBD is intended to be used to establish the City of Rio Rancho’s first downtown.

The downtown is modeled as a “lifestyle center” providing a “main street” environment with open-air shopping, planned and developed as a unit and intended to serve consumer demands for the citizens of the city, as well as the region, with the primary offering consisting of a mix of specialty retailers, restaurants, entertainment and theater facilities and civic uses (i.e., City Hall).

The CBD shall utilize the City Centre Master Plan and accompanying regulating design standards to provide guidance pertaining to the landscaping, architecture, parking, pedestrian, multimodal transportation, and specific design features of the downtown area of the city. It is the purpose of this section to:

Auditoriums, bowling alleys, billiards, dance hall, theaters, skating rinks, indoor entertainment;

Bakeries, pastry and confectioneries for retail sales;

Banks and other financial institutions;

Bicycle shops (sales and repair);

Coffee shop, cafe, newsstand;

Commercial recreation uses;

Department stores;

Fire stations, police stations and other public buildings;

Hotel/motel;

Laboratories, research, and experimental stations;

Libraries, museums, cultural institutions;

Light manufacturing;

Medical supplies and services, drug prescription supplies, and dental/medical lab;

Newspaper offices;

Office and corporate headquarters;

Offices and office buildings;

Park and ride facilities, parking lots, garages;

Personal services – beauty and barber shops, fitness centers, laundry/dry cleaning, tailor and dressmaking, shoe repair, tanning and manicure salons;

Photographic studios;

Public utilities/electric facilities;

Radio and television studios;

Restaurants, bars, lounges, coffee/tea rooms, delicatessens, patio/al fresco dining facilities;

Residential uses as secondary use or above the first floor; provided, that density shall not exceed 50 dwelling units per acre;

Sales, display room/building for wholesaler, distributor, etc.;

Stores for the sale of retail goods, products, services;

Travel bureaus.

Automotive dealers, motorcycle dealers;

Drive-in, drive-through window restaurants, convenience stores.

Promote economic development for the city by fostering the creation of significant employment centers;

Enhance and implement the comprehensive plan by creating a land use category that supports campus-style office, warehousing, light manufacturing and supportive commercial use;

Provide a high quality employment environment of multi-acre parcels based on an approved master plan that includes architectural guidelines and buffers as outlined in the urban design element of the comprehensive plan;

Plan for efficient transportation access through proximity to arterial roadways;

Ensure appropriate transitions and/or buffers to adjacent low density residential land uses.

Auditoriums, bowling alleys, billiard or pool halls, dance halls, theaters, skating rinks, and other indoor entertainment establishments;

Bakeries, pastry and confectioneries for retail sales;

Banks and other financial institutions;

Brewpubs and microbreweries, artisanal distilleries, and taprooms;

Hotel/motel;

Indoor shooting range;

Industrial;

Laboratories, research and experimental stations;

Libraries, museums, cultural institutions;

Light industrial;

Light manufacturing;

Manufacturing;

Medical complexes, professional offices (medical and dental), veterinarians, offices/clinics; except boarding kennels are not permitted;

Motion picture production, radio and television production studios;

Nursery schools and daycare facilities;

Offices and office buildings;

Offset press printing;

Outdoor storage, as an accessory use, provided:

Parks, recreational parks, open spaces, and public facilities;

Personal services – beauty/barber shops, fitness centers, laundry/dry cleaning, tailor/dressmaking, shoe repair, tanning/manicure salon;

Photocopying and blueprinting, shipping and messenger service;

Public utilities, electric facilities;

Repair shops – electrical, radio, and television appliances, keys and similar articles;

Research and development office;

Residential uses as secondary use or above the first floor; provided, that density shall not exceed 50 dwelling units per acre;

Restaurants, bars, lounges, coffee/tea rooms, patio/al fresco dining facilities, provided:

Sales and display rooms or buildings for wholesalers, distributors, warehouses or manufactures;

Schools, private, K-12, college, trade schools;

Schools, public, K-12;

Sheet metal working;

Stores for the sale of retail goods, products, and services; except gasoline stations are not permitted;

Temporary structures and enclosures used in construction as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(D);

Warehousing and indoor storage;

Wholesale commercial.

All activities and storage of materials, products or equipment shall be within an enclosed building unless consistent with Article III, Section 154.71;

No noise, odors, vibration or other impacts shall be discernible off the premises of the building;

All design standards shall be provided in a master plan approved by Planning and Zoning Board. The master plan shall address the following components:

One single-family dwelling per lot or one mobile home per lot;

Incidental structures such as private workshops, storage, recreation, hobby, green-houses, accessory dwelling unit or accessory living space, or for the keeping or housing of domestic animals and/or agricultural products;

Home occupations;

Raising of nursery products;

Parks, open spaces, recreational parks, and public facilities;

Agricultural activity provided the lot has an area of at least one acre:

Temporary, emergency, construction, and repair residences, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Community residential care facility up to 10 persons, including any staff residents, providing all city regulations are met;

Family child care facility with a capacity of six or less;

Public utilities;

Churches, other places of worship, Sunday school building, and parish house.

Hospitals and institutions of an educational nature;

Nursery, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and other private or special schools;

Fur-bearing animal farm;

Kennel, veterinary hospital;

Family child care facility with a capacity of seven or more;

Hobby breeders and animal foster care providers as per conditions listed under the R-1 Single-Family Residential District.

Single-family dwellings;

Lodging houses, duplexes, beauty, and barber shops;

Antique shops;

Arts and crafts shops, or galleries;

Confectionery stores;

Bar or lounge;

Gift shop;

Restaurant;

Museum;

Photographer’s studio;

Churches, and other places of worship, Sunday school buildings, and parish house.

Natural areas designated for outdoor education, low-impact recreation, wildlife/habitat enhancement and conservation, natural and cultural resource preservation;

Land undergoing restoration;

Regional preserves;

Lakes, waterways, flood water storage areas, and other public facilities for handling flood water, all designed in such a way as to be considered a visual and/or physical amenity in the community;

Land that serves as a buffer, protecting the public from natural hazards;

Structures and facilities incidental to the above uses; provided, that such incidental buildings do not cover more than five percent of the ground area;

Amenities and improvements supporting the above uses including drinking water fountains and spigots, trash and dog waste receptacles, tables and benches, bicycle racks, and regulatory and interpretive signs;

Unpaved service roads, permeable parking lots with 25 spaces or less, fencing six feet in height or less, trails and trail corridors, and public utilities necessary for the protection, development and use of the open space area.

Development, including public utilities, roads other than unimproved service roads, drainage structures other than those necessary for resource protection, amphitheater, visitor center, interpretive center, botanical garden, arboretum, garden open to the public, parking lot with more than 25 spaces, and other uses as specified in resource management plans or master plans.

Applications for conditional uses must demonstrate that:

Parks and plazas, including playgrounds, fenced off-leash dog areas, skateboard facilities, sport courts and fields, bathroom facilities, pavilions, community and recreation centers, swimming pools, and trails;

Botanical gardens, arboretums and gardens open to the public;

Roads and public utilities necessary for the development and use of the park.

Golf courses;

Cemeteries including columbariums, mausoleums, or crematories;

Natural areas designated for recreation, wildlife/habitat enhancement, natural and cultural resource preservation;

Land undergoing restoration;

Regional preserves;

Lakes, waterways, flood water storage areas, and other public facilities for handling flood water, all designed in such a way as to be considered a visual and/or physical amenity in the community;

Structures and facilities incidental to the above uses; provided, that such incidental buildings do not cover more than five percent of the ground area.

A special use zoning designation is also appropriately used:

An application for a change to SU zoning must state the proposed land use(s).

All SU zoned property must have a site plan approved by the Governing Body. The site plan may accompany the application for a change in zoning designation or may be submitted for approval at a later date. Approval of the site plan must be obtained prior to any development of the property. The site plan at a minimum shall contain the following information:

The Director of Development Services may approve minor changes to an approved site plan if the change is consistent with the use and other written requirements and/or conditions of approval, if the buildings are of the same general configuration, if the total square footage is not greater than 10% more than the approved plan, the site circulation is similar in its effect on adjacent property or streets, and the approving official finds that neither the city nor any person will be substantially aggrieved by the altered site plan.

Airport;

Amusement park of a permanent character;

Cemetery, including columbarium, mausoleum, or crematory;

Resorts, spas;

Racetrack;

Stadium;

Indoor shooting range;

Manufactured home/mobile home park;

Recreational vehicle/travel trailer park or campground;

Concrete batching plant;

Outdoor theater;

Community residential care facility provided all city regulations are met in addition to any conditions set forth via the SU/special use zoning hearing process;

Landfill;

Mining;

Planned residential developments.

Public utilities, electric facilities including, but not limited to, substations, switching stations and generation;

Boarding house (boarding, lodging house, or bed and breakfast);

Any use or combination of uses not otherwise permitted under a specific zoning district.

One single-family dwelling unit per lot; provided such dwelling unit meets the design standards of Article III, Section 154.60;

Accessory buildings or structures, as defined in Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Accessory living space, as defined in Article III, Section 154.70(A);

Noncommercial gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts and greenhouses;

Parks, open spaces, recreational parks, and public facilities;

Home occupations;

Construction trailers, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Temporary (emergency, construction, or repair) residences, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(C);

Family child care facility with a capacity of six or less;

Second kitchen;

Model home or sales office, as defined in Article III, Section 154.75(A);

Community residential care facility up to 10 persons, including any staff residents, providing all city regulations are met as set forth in Chapter 120;

Public utilities, including electric facilities including, but not limited to, substations, switching stations and generation;

Churches and other places of worship, Sunday school buildings, and parish houses;

Amateur radio antenna;

Accessory dwelling unit; as defined in Article I, Section 154.03 and Article III, Section 154.70(A).

A conditional use permit is required for a digital off-premises sign and shall be valid for 10 years. A new application shall be required thereafter.

Criteria to deny approval of a conditional use permit may include but are not limited to the following:

Within 75 feet of the east or west right-of-way lines of NM 528/Pat D’Arco Highway from the southern city limit to US HWY 550.

Within 75 feet of the south right-of-way line of US HWY 550 between NM 528/Pat D’Arco Highway and the alignment for the Northwest Loop Road.

Within 75 feet of the right-of-way lines of Paseo Del Volcan between Unser Boulevard to US HWY 550.

Within 75 feet north or south of the right-of-way lines of Southern Boulevard between NM 528/Pat D’Arco Highway and Unser Boulevard.

Within 75 feet east or west of the right-of-way lines of Unser Boulevard from the southern city limit to Progress Boulevard.

Signs shall be in accordance with the following:

Both sides of a sign shall have copy. Embellishments and animation are prohibited.

When within 100 feet of an elevated roadway, the height measured from the bottom of the sign may be a maximum of 10 feet above the elevated roadway.

Electronic video display signs shall have an automated dimming feature (photocell) to adjust for lower light and night conditions.

Signs shall be located in a nonvehicular area or within a landscape planter.

A minimum separation of 10,560 feet is required between off-premises signs located on the same side of a street and a separation of 5,280 feet is required from another off-premises sign located on the opposite side of a street. A minimum separation of 300 feet (including rights-of-way) from single-family residential development shall be maintained. No off-premises advertising sign shall be located within 100 feet of an on-premises sign located on another parcel. The off-premises advertising company shall provide a survey stamped by a registered surveyor or engineer verifying the aforementioned distance separations.

Off-premises advertising signs shall be maintained and shall be administratively reviewed on an annual basis to ensure sign maintenance.

Failure to maintain signs shall result in a public hearing if applicable before the Planning and Zoning Board to determine the appropriateness of continuing the use.

The support structure shall be skirted with a decorative base.