Bullhead City Board of Adjustments Meeting – June 10, 2024

The Bullhead City Board of Adjustments met on June 10, 2024, at 1:30 PM. The meeting included the approval of previous minutes, election of officers for the 2023–2024 fiscal year, and a public hearing on a variance request (B24-001).

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes of the previous meeting: Moved, seconded, and unanimously approved by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Sharon Shields, a resident of the same neighborhood, spoke about a similar construction issue where a driveway was built 10 inches onto a neighbor's property. She expressed interest in observing the variance process to understand how her own situation might be resolved. She stated no opposition to the variance being considered.

Discussion Items

• Election of Chair and Vice Chair for the 2023–2024 fiscal year: Jackie Edge was nominated and unanimously elected Chair; Kenya (last name not stated) was nominated and unanimously elected Vice Chair. Both votes were taken by voice vote with all members in favor.
• Public Hearing – Variance B24-001: A request for a variance from the zoning code (Sections 17.06.180, 17.06.200, and Table 17.38.010) to allow a side yard setback of 3 feet instead of the required 5 feet for a structure at 2654 Bear Mountain Loop (the agenda listed the address as 2654 Fair Mountain Loop; the transcript used Bear Mountain Loop). The structure was recently built, and due to a construction error—property pins were apparently moved or misplaced during grading—the house is only about 1 foot from the side property line. The applicant worked out an agreement with the adjacent property owner to purchase 2 feet of land, which would bring the setback to 3 feet (meeting the building code’s fire separation requirement). The board discussed four criteria:
  1. Unnecessary hardship: The board agreed that strict application of the zoning ordinance would deprive the property of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the same district (yes).
  2. Special privileges: The board concluded that granting the variance would not constitute a grant of special privileges inconsistent with limitations on other properties (no).
  3. Health or safety: The variance would not materially affect the health, safety, or public welfare, or be injurious to other property (no).
  4. Self-imposed circumstances: The special circumstances were not self-imposed by the owner; they resulted from a construction surveying error (no). Following the discussion, a motion to grant the variance was made, seconded, and passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Election results: Jackie Edge elected Chair, Kenya elected Vice Chair for the 2023–2024 fiscal year.
• Variance B24-001 granted: The board voted unanimously (3–0) to approve the variance, allowing a 3-foot side yard setback, contingent on the applicant completing a lot line adjustment with the neighbor to acquire the necessary 2 feet.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent.