Meeting Details
Wednesday, August 5
6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Rio Rancho City Hall
Governing Body Overflow Room
3200 Civic Center Cir. NE
Rio Rancho, NM 87144
JOIN VIA ZOOM: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88386679820?pwd=Atgo3Ax6E36GaGqSiOUhXFSH9863Wu.1
Meeting ID: 883 8667 9820
Passcode: 437348
Public Notice
The New Mexico State Land Office (“SLO”) gives notice in accordance with NMSA 1978, Section 19-7-9.1 that it will hold a public meeting at the Governing Body Overflow Room at the Rio Rancho City Hall, on August 5th, 2026, starting at 6:00 p.m. MST. Those wishing to participate may do so in person or by visiting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88386679820?pwd=Atgo3Ax6E36GaGqSiOUhXFSH9863Wu.1 or by dialing in by phone at 1-669-900-9128 and entering the meeting ID: 883 8667 9820 and passcode: 437348. Any change to the time will be posted with a final agenda on the SLO webpage (http://www.nmstatelands.org) at least 72 hours prior to the date and time specified above.
The purpose of the meeting is to receive public comment regarding a proposed sale of 300.4274 acres of state trust lands located in the Cleveland Heights master plan area of Rio Rancho, north of and abutting Cleveland Heights Road NE. The 300.4274-acre tract is designated as Tracts A, B, C, D, E, F and G as the same are shown and designated on the plat entitled “Bulk Land Subdivision Plat for Tracts A-I, Cleveland Heights Being Comprised of Tracts 4-9, 10-A, 10-B, 10-C, and 11-14, and 16 Paseo Gateway, City of Rio Rancho, Sandoval County, New Mexico, November 2025,” filed in the office of the County Clerk, Sandoval County, New Mexico on January 22, 2026 in Vol. 3, Folio 5528, Pages 5528-5532.
Tracts A-F are zoned R-4 (Single Family Residential), and Tract G is zoned SU (Mixed Use). It is expected that any buyer will develop the land for use consistent with the zoning. The land is currently subject to a 2010 lease (No. BL-1952, as amended) under which the lessee has performed certain real estate planning and development for the purpose of increasing the value of the land by making higher and better uses available and making the land suitable for future sale or lease for those uses, as anticipated by the lease. Pursuant to the lease, which would be relinquished as to the land being sold at the closing of the proposed sale, the lessee has extended or caused to be extended certain infrastructure to the boundary of the land. The City of Rio Rancho may, in accordance with current resolutions, ordinances and policies in effect at the time for any specific proposal, require additional off-site improvements in order to approve development and use of the land and issue required development permits.
Sale of the land and development by the eventual purchaser is expected to substantially increase the housing stock in this part of the City of Rio Rancho with a commensurate increase in traffic and demand for public services. At the same time, conveyance of the land from state ownership to private ownership would remove its tax-exempt status and increase the tax base substantially.
If the SLO makes a final decision to proceed with a potential sale, the Commissioner of Public Lands would conduct a public auction in accordance with the New Mexico Enabling Act (36 Stat. 557); NMSA Sections 19-7-1, 19-7-2 and 19-7-9; and State Land Office Rule 19.2.14 NMAC. The Commissioner of Public Lands would issue a notice of public auction published for at least 10 weeks as required by law soliciting bids on the land. A minimum sale price would be established in accordance with an appraisal to ensure that any sale is for at least the true value of the land. The land would be offered for a cash sale (i.e., full payment in cash due at closing) as a single tract. Additional requirements may be established for submitting bids and completing the sale. The Commissioner would also reserve the right to reject all bids and withdraw the land from sale or to reinitiate the process of offering the land for sale on the same or different terms. The purchaser would be required to pay all costs associated with the transaction, including but not limited to the cost of the appraisal, advertisement of the auction, and recording fees. Conveyance of the land would be subject to all valid and existing leases, easements, restrictions, and reservations, including a reservation to the State of New Mexico of all minerals and geothermal resources in, under or upon the subject land. The SLO may offer a negative easement or surface non-disturbance agreement with regard to the reserved minerals and geothermal resources.
If you have any questions, please contact Michael Sage, Assistant Commissioner, at 505-827-5708 or email msage@nmslo.gov.