Bullhead City Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting - February 1, 2024
Bullhead City Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting - February 1, 2024
The Bullhead City Planning & Zoning Commission held a regular meeting on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Chairwoman Pamela Smith with six commissioners present (Barnett, Brandt, Brown, Genovese, Smith, Stein) and Commissioner Brandt absent. The commission approved the previous meeting minutes and recommended approval of a zoning map change and a redevelopment plan to the City Council.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of January 4, 2024, Regular Meeting Minutes: A motion was made by Commissioner Stein and seconded by Commissioner Brandt to approve the minutes as written. The motion carried 6-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 3 – Redevelopment Plan: Albert Diaz, owner of a property at 903 Riverview, expressed concern about a previous $820 fine from code enforcement and questioned whether the redevelopment plan would lead to property taking or further fines. Chairwoman Smith clarified that the plan does not involve eminent domain or property acquisition; it is an overlay to seek state funding for homeowner improvements.
- Jack Kemala, a resident on Lake View, asked whether the plan would provide assistance for aesthetics (e.g., curb, gutter, sidewalk) on the residential side, or only through citation processes. Staff explained that future CDBG grants could fund such infrastructure improvements, but there are no guarantees.
Discussion Items
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Item 2 – Zoning Map Change Z23-013 (1545 & 1547 Grandview Drive): Planning Manager Johnny Loera presented the request to change the zoning from C2 (General Commercial) to C3 (Commercial and Minor Industrial) to allow a warehouse for a pool supply wholesale facility. The building would be approximately 8,000 sq. ft., with 1,000 sq. ft. for sales/display and 7,000 sq. ft. for storage. The surrounding area includes both C2 and C3 uses. No public comments were made. The commission discussed the consistency with existing uses and the applicant’s plan. A motion to approve was made, seconded, and carried 6-0.
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Item 3 – City Center Redevelopment Plan: Staff presented the plan, which covers approximately 115 acres along Riverview Drive and Lakeside Drive in the Riviera neighborhood. The plan is authorized under A.R.S. §§ 36-1471 through 36-1479 and aims to address blight through enhanced code enforcement, demolition of unsafe structures, and pursuit of state and federal grants (e.g., CDBG, Arizona Department of Housing funds) for housing rehabilitation and infrastructure. The plan does not propose changes to the General Plan, zoning, or property acquisition. Commissioner questions focused on the scope (only frontage roads initially), the availability of grants for individual homeowners, and the potential financial burden on residents. Staff noted that code enforcement would increase but that the plan primarily opens funding opportunities, such as those used for the 66-unit Clearwater affordable housing project. The commission discussed expanding the area in the future. A motion to approve as written was made and seconded.
Key Outcomes
- Zoning Map Change Z23-013: Approved unanimously (6-0) with a recommendation to City Council. The change from C2 to C3 is subject to compliance with city codes, including a 6-foot screen fence, landscaping, and parking per chapters 17.26, 17.44, and 17.48. The change becomes effective upon issuance of a building permit before February 20, 2026.
- City Center Redevelopment Plan: Approved by a vote of 5-1 (one opposed) with a recommendation to City Council. The plan creates a redevelopment area in portions of Sections 19, 20, and 29, T20N, R22W. It does not alter existing land use regulations or require property acquisition.
- Commissioner Comments: Vice Chairwoman Barnett reminded the public about the annual Wine and Jazz event on February 3, 2024, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of the Colorado River at the Chamber of Commerce from 6-10 PM. Commissioner Genovese noted ongoing rainy weather. No future agenda topics were set.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:00 PM (estimated from the transcript).
Meeting Transcript
All righty, our technical difficulties are over, and would like to welcome welcome you all today. Is Thursday, February 1st to the regular planning and zoning commission meeting? May we have a roll call? I mean a uh roll call, please. All commission members are present except for Commissioner Brandt. Thank you. If you would all join in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to Republicans for the city. Okay, Johnny, do we have any presentations? None? Okay. Okay, right now is time for call to the public. Uh this is the time if you want to speak about something that is not on the agenda. Now is your opportunity to do so. You do have three minutes. Does anybody want to speak on something not on the agenda? Seeing nobody, we will move on. Uh item number one, approval of minutes, discussion and possible action to approve the January 4th, 2024 regular meeting minutes. I make a motion to approve the January 4th, 2024 minutes as written. I second that. Okay, we have a first and a second. Vote at the board. Board working. No. Six in favor of the motion. Motion carries. Okay. Uh do we have any requests for postponements or withdrawals? Uh okay. Item number two, zoning map change Z two three-013. Request for a zoning map change from C2 General Commercial to C3 Commercial and Minor Industrial for parcels of land located at 1545 and 1547 Grandview Drive, and described as Colorado River Estates reamended portions of lot 158 and 159, section 26, Township 20 North, Range 22 West, Bullhead City, Arizona. Properties 1545 and 55 drive. Not on. You're not on. That better? All right, 1545 and 1547 Grandview Drive. These are the two parcels that sit right behind the human being across the alley. And there's zone C2, which allows service uses, offices, storage buildings, things of that nature. The applicant wants to build a warehouse there. They have a pool company that sounds like they mainly store and sell pool equipment or uh let's say pool chemicals mostly. And because most of the building would be a warehouse, that zoning district requirement is a C3. So that's what they're requesting to go from C2 to C3. I think you saw in the maps there. Most of the parcels in the area are C2, but there are C3 also. There's the two recycling centers. There's a couple of open storage facilities. So it still we think fits within kind of the uh the general uses in that area. I think the applicant is here, I believe. If you have any questions for them.
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