Rio Rancho council denies Maverik station over traffic concerns

The Rio Rancho City Council voted down a proposal to build a Maverik gas station at an empty lot at New Mexico 528 and Obregon Road. Neighbors packed a council meeting Thursday to argue that traffic from the station would overwhelm nearby residential streets.

The lot sits across from Corrales Road. Residents have been fighting the project since earlier this year over concerns about how close it would sit to homes.

“We value our neighbors. And our time we spend outside recreating and that’s why we bought homes in that area,” said Kristine, a nearby Rio Rancho neighbor, at Thursday’s meeting.

She described the existing activity on the surrounding roads. “You’ll see neighbors walking their dogs, you’ll see people riding bikes, little dirt bikes, all kinds of different activity on the road,” Kristine said.

According to the New Mexico Department of Transportation, Maverik received permission from the department for cars to enter the lot from New Mexico 528 but did not get approval to exit back onto the highway because of the area’s crash history. That means cars would have to exit onto Monterrey, a residential street.

Rio Rancho resident Thomas pointed to existing congestion on that road. “Monterrey and Obregon already carry concentrated morning and afternoon traffic associated with Enchanted Hills Elementary School nearby,” Thomas said.

Councilor Nicole List said the traffic pattern made the project unworkable. “Ultimately the only thing that was granted was a right in, which forces 100% of those vehicles out onto Monterrey, which is in no way shape or form acceptable,” List said.

Councilors voted 5-1 to deny the project, finding it did not meet the safety needs of the area.

KRQE reached out to Maverik for comment but had not heard back.