In spite of the economic downturn, one company has plans to open a diagnostic imaging location in the City of Vision.

Dr. Margaret Chaffey, president of X-Ray Associates of New Mexico, said her company will open in the City of Vision. The X-ray company already has six facilities throughout the state, including one at the corner of Alameda and Corrales roads. The newest location will be across the street from the now-under-construction Presbyterian Hospital, on the southwest corner of Unser Boulevard and 19th Avenue.

“We’re very excited,” Chaffey said. “We’re very enthusiastic about partnering with the City of Vision. We look forward to expanding our services to a medically underserved community.”

courtesy '€” Studio Southwest Architects, Inc An architectural rendering of the proposed 60-foot tall medical office building on the southwest corner of Unser Boulevard and 19th Avenue. X-Ray Associates of New Mexico will anchor the building that will also include an urgent care center, a surgery center and a pathology lab. Petroglyph Real Estate Development is developing the project.

She said the goal is to provide a multi-medical facility with surgical specialties and a gamut of outpatient services.”

Last Wednesday, the city council approved the developer’s, Petroglyph Real Estate Development, request to amend the Unser Gateway West Vicinity Plan and create the Petroglyph Medical Plaza Master Plan.

This allows the unified development of a medical office and retail complex.

The firm is planning five buildings and soccer fields on more than 20 acres. In the middle of the development will be a 60-foot tall medical office building with an urgent care center, a surgery center and a pathology lab.

But, it won’t just be medical services on the site. Other services that the development allows for include banks, a convenience store, gasoline stations, a hotel, grocery stores and other retail uses within walking distance of the medical building.

Mayor Tom Swisstack likes the development.

“It’s more than just a new business,” he said. “This is a comprehensive 20-acre site that will allow people to receive quality care and at the same time go to restaurants or other food service vendors while waiting for results or doctors.”

To get the project rolling, the city is planning to offer economic incentives to Petroglyph.

A first reading detailing those incentives was heard at the council meeting, with a final vote scheduled for Dec. 9.

Petroglyph wants a refund of $2.78 million associated with the construction of public infrastructure improvements under the city’s Gross Receipts Investment Policy, which was adopted in 2003.

The public infrastructure is required prior to construction.

Under the agreement, the city would provide a yearly refund of 50 percent of total gross receipts tax revenues received by the city and directly attributed to retail sales and professional services of the proposed complex.

The refunds would end after the infrastructure is paid for or after 11 years, whichever occurs first, according to the agenda-briefing memorandum.

City Manager James Jimenez said this development will spur GRT revenues in the city.

“They’re a reputable company and are expanding medical services to Rio Rancho,” he said. “They’re also helping spur some retail development along the critical corridor along Unser Boulevard. I think that’s a very good thing for the city.”