Representatives of homeowners associations near Rio Rancho’s golf course met with city officials and the golf course’s contract purchaser this week to discuss plans for the area.
The meeting, held at City Hall on Friday morning, was attended by Mayor Gregg Hull, City Manager Keith Riesberg, Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority executive engineer Chuck Thomas, Josh Skarsgard of Albuquerque’s Skarsgard Firm, along with members of the Enclave, Islands of Rio Rancho and North Nine associations.
The Observer was told to leave the meeting, as the meeting was private.
Last month, Skarsgard presented plans to purchase the property during a SSCAFCA board meeting. According to city officials, Skarsgard voiced his interest in developing 30 acres around the golf course’s clubhouse and a small piece of acreage near High Resort Boulevard. The rest of the land would be under conservation easement and would be considered open space.
Skarsgard, who spoke to the Observer before the meeting, said he was under contract to purchase the golf course’s property from Southwest Capital Bank in April. Skarsgard said he wanted to hear the concerns of area residents before he completed the purchase.
“I’m trying to reach out to all the neighborhood leaders and some of the residents to find out what they’re doing, what their desires are, what their wants are, what their goals are for the club,” Skarsgard said. “It’s basically a listening tour.”
The group of residents and officials will meet again March 10, 17 and 24. Skarsgard said he’d like to have a plan for the property “that meets the goals of the neighborhood and meets our goals” by the end of March.
