The Socorro City Board of Adjustments voted to approve a variance allowing a 10‑foot front setback instead of the 35‑foot setback required for properties facing collector streets at 10081 Judge Caldwell Drive.

Staff presented the request as a variance from Municipal Code section 46‑415 (area requirements, subsection 3(a)) on behalf of the property owner, M and F Investment Group LLC, citing a proposed commercial development. The property is zoned C‑2 (general commercial) and is about 80,368 square feet. Staff said the variance “would serve a public interest” and “meets the spirit of the code.”

Jorge Loya, the project architect and applicant, told the board the development would include 10 paddle courts and accessory buildings to support a small restaurant, a gift shop and a reception area. “For the record, my name is Jorge Loya, and I’m the architect of this project,” he said. Loya said the smaller setback is needed to maximize the site and to meet the owner group’s business plan, which he said requires at least 10 courts. When commissioners raised safety concerns about proximity to the street, Loya replied the site “will be fenced at the property line, so they’ll be fully protected from the street,” and described the courts as enclosed in glass with an outer perimeter fence.

The board also asked about parking. Loya said the design meets the city ordinance requirement (he referenced an ordinance that specifies roughly 2.5 spaces per court) and that the parking provided exceeds the minimum.

A motion to approve the variance was made by Jesus Ruiz and seconded by David Oropeza. The motion carried.

The approval allows the applicant to proceed with the proposed site layout as shown in the submitted plan; any building permits or additional land‑use approvals required by the city must still be obtained.