Bullhead City Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting – September 5, 2024
Bullhead City Planning & Zoning Commission Regular Meeting – September 5, 2024
The Bullhead City Planning and Zoning Commission met on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included the election of officers, a controversial removal of a commissioner for attendance violations, and public hearings on three major developments: the CityCentre District conceptual plan (246 acres), a zoning change for a manufactured home park (18.55 acres), and an easement abandonment. A code amendment regarding stormwater erosion control was also approved.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: The May 2, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes were approved unanimously (5-0).
- Election of Chairperson: Commissioner Pamela Smith was elected Chair for the 2024-2025 fiscal year (motion by Stein, second by Genovese, vote 5-0).
- Election of Vice Chairperson: Commissioner Stephen Brown was elected Vice Chair for the 2024-2025 fiscal year (motion by Smith, second by Genovese, vote 5-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Conceptual Plan P24-003 (CityCentre District): Two members of the public spoke. Scotty expressed support for the project, requested right-turn lanes on Marina, Lakeside, and Riverview, and urged inclusion of shade trees. Gene O'Neill also supported the concept but requested dedicated bicycle lanes and pedestrian paths, noting the need for safe non-motorized access.
- No public testimony was offered on the easement abandonment, zoning map change Z24-007, or the code amendment.
Discussion Items
Annual Review of Bylaws & Removal of Commissioner (Agenda Item 4) Commissioner Stein proposed amending the bylaws to automatically refer attendance violations to the City Council rather than requiring a commission vote on removal. The motion failed for lack of a second. Stein then moved to remove Commissioner Melinda Sobraske for lack of attendance (citing three missed meetings in a 12-month period). The motion was seconded and passed 5-0. The matter will be forwarded to the City Council for final decision.
Abandonment A24-001 Planning Manager Johnny Loera presented a request to abandon a 16-foot public utility easement within Lots 6-17, Block 11 of Tierra Grande Tract 4023-C. All utility providers had no objections. The Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval.
Conceptual Plan P24-003 – CityCentre District Representatives for the applicant (Jake Kwarta and Jason Sanks) presented a master plan for a mixed-use development on 246 acres south of City Hall, including commercial, single-family, multi-family, senior housing, RV park, and storage uses. The Commission debated the requested modifications (e.g., reduced parking, smaller lot sizes, increased building heights). Commissioner Stein expressed concern that the conceptual plan granted too many exceptions without detailed review. The Commission ultimately voted 5-0 to approve the conceptual plan without any of the requested modifications, directing that each modification be considered individually during future zoning and plat applications.
Zoning Map Change Z24-007 The applicant, David McMillan, requested a change from R2MF (Multiple-Family) to RP-PAD (Residential Park) for an 18.55-acre site at 1625 Goldrush Road to develop a 124-unit manufactured home rental community. The Commission approved the rezoning, including a modification to allow a 3-foot block wall along the western boundary instead of the standard 6-foot wall, to preserve views.
Code Amendment – Flood Prone Lands and Storm Drainage Staff proposed adding language to Title 16, Chapter 16.36 requiring straw hay bales or other organic erosion control materials to be replaced every three months. Commissioner Genovese questioned the fixed interval, but the Commission voted 5-0 to approve the amendment as written.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (unanimous): May 2, 2024 minutes; election of Chair (Pamela Smith) and Vice Chair (Stephen Brown).
- Approved (5-0): Removal of Commissioner Melinda Sobraske for attendance violations, forwarded to City Council.
- Recommended Approval (unanimous): Abandonment A24-001 (16’ utility easement).
- Approved (5-0): Conceptual Plan P24-003 for CityCentre District, without requested modifications; future zoning and plat applications must address each modification individually.
- Recommended Approval (unanimous): Zoning map change Z24-007 (R2MF to RP-PAD) for Goldrush Road, with a 3-foot block wall modification.
- Approved (5-0): Code amendment to Title 16 (flood prone lands) requiring replacement of organic erosion control materials every three months.
Meeting Transcript
I'm sorry. Ten dollars. Sorry. And the prize is $1,000 cash. So I have tickets, so please come over and say hi to me. Thanks. Anyone else wishing to speak in the call to the public? Seeing none, we'll close call to public. And move on to item number one, which is discuss discussion and possible action to approve the May 2nd, 2024 regular meeting minutes. I make a motion to approve. Second. Vote on the board. I think we're short circuited. We need to vote. We need your vote, please. Matthew, do you you need to vote on the board up there? Yeah. Oh, I is for your stain. Five in favor of the motion. Motion carries. Oh, okay. Uh moving on to item number two. Oh, well, actually, is there any request for postmoderns or anything? Okay. Um, item number two, discussion and possible action to elect a member of the commission to serve as chairman during the 2024-2025 fiscal year in accordance with Article 1, Section 102 of the current commission bylaws. I make a motion to approve Pamela Smith. Second. I guess we'll vote on the board. Okay, item number three. Five in favor of the motion. Motion carries. And I'll make a motion to have Steven Brown as our vice chair. Second. Oh second. Okay. All in favor. No, I don't. I think you can wait till next. Five in favor of the motion. Motion carries. Okay, item number four. One of my favorites. Discussion to conduct an annual review of the planning and zoning commission bylaws in accordance with section 302 of the commission bylaws. No changes are proposed, no action is necessary. I'm not sure about you guys, but I'd like to bring up the same thing that I brought up last time. We have uh the way our bylaws read on uh page two, number one oh five B requires the commission to vote if they want to remove somebody for lack of attendance or whatever the case may be. We have to vote to send it to council. Um I propose that that be changed so that it automatically triggers going to council for them to make a decision on removal. We have somebody who's not here tonight that missed the last meeting we were at and has missed quite a few meetings. So that's my proposal.
openpublica.com