By Antonio Sanchez / Rio Rancho Observer staff writer:

Club Rio Rancho’s upcoming open house will feature food, entertainment and the latest plans from Pulte Homes to develop more than 100 houses on the club’s North 9 golf course.

The event, which the club’s website says is to “celebrate the heart of our community,” will be open to the public at Club Rio Rancho on Sunday, April 17, from noon to 5 p.m.

Club owner Jhett Browne said there will be games and live entertainment, with food and drinks available for purchase.

At 2 p.m., Pulte Homes will present its latest development plans. A $3.2 million sale to the home developer is pending.

Browne said the presentation is the same that was given by Pulte to the North Nine Neighborhood Association in a closed meeting in early March.

“I think people will find this is a much higher development than anything in the area, which should help home values,” he said.

Pulte’s original development plan was to build 180 upscale homes atop the North 9’s 67 acres. Its new plan reduces the total to 145 houses, Browne said.

“(Pulte’s new plan is) much less dense than the area of the people mostly opposed to it,” he said. “We’re hoping, as most people get to see all of it and it’s not just a closed meeting for a select few, that the entire community would support it.” Click here to read the full article.