Bullhead City Board of Adjustment Regular Meeting – June 9, 2026

The Bullhead City Board of Adjustment met on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in the Bullhead City Council Chambers at 1255 Marina Blvd., Bullhead City, AZ. All but two commission members were present. There were no presentations, and no one spoke during the open call to the public. The board approved the prior meeting minutes, reviewed its bylaws, elected officers for the 2025-26 fiscal year, and approved Variance B26-001 by a 2–1 vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the open call to the public.
• Testimony during the variance public hearing is summarized under the Variance B26-001 section below.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously approved the November 12, 2024 regular meeting minutes on a 3–0 vote.

Annual Bylaws Review

• The board conducted the annual review of the Board of Adjustment Commission Bylaws under Section 302. No formal changes were proposed, but two discrepancies were identified: the binder index says “co-chair” while the bylaws say “vice chair,” and the bylaws do not include the 2024 City Council change to Section 205 regarding new members’ ability to vote on meeting minutes.
• Staff was directed to amend the bylaws to correct these items and bring them back for review at the next meeting.

Election of Officers

• Christy Fouts was nominated and unanimously elected Chairperson for the 2025-26 city fiscal year.
• Kenya Kripney was nominated and elected Vice Chairperson for the 2025-26 city fiscal year.

Public Hearing – Variance B26-001

• The public hearing addressed a request for a variance at 1192 Juanita Lane, described as Colorado River Sites Unit 1, Block 1, Lot 11, Bullhead City, AZ. The applicant sought relief from Section 17.06.110 to allow a fence height over four feet in the front yard and from Section 17.06.170 to allow a swimming pool in the front yard.
• Staff explained that the house was built toward the rear/west portion of the property, and retaining walls, topography, and building setbacks leave no other reasonable location for the pool. The building code requires a pool barrier at least five feet high and non-climbable.
• Contractor Cole Labriola described the proposed barrier as metal posts with horizontal composite Trex planks, a material he described as a version of wrought iron with a privacy-mesh effect. He said the barrier would be placed along the street side on top of the existing retaining wall and would meet the height requirement. Distances from the patio to the barrier would be about 16 feet at one end and 18 feet at the other.
• Property owner Ross McLaren said the pool deck is nearly level with the top of the retaining wall, so people walking on the street could look into the yard. He wanted a taller privacy barrier. He stated that the home is not yet his primary residence, but he plans to move there after retirement, within about a year and a half, and the pool would mostly be used on weekends.
• Neighbors Rick Schmidt and Renee Schmidt of 1190 Juanita Lane expressed opposition to the proposed height and opaque design. They said five feet on top of the existing four-to-five-foot retaining wall would be about nine feet and would block their river views. They stated that open, see-through wrought iron would be acceptable to them and asked whether the retaining wall could count toward the required pool barrier.
• Board discussion included the required variance findings, with mixed views on whether the property’s special circumstances were self-imposed. A board member noted that the practical difference was about one foot, because a four-foot solid fence could already be built without the pool, and the pool-barrier requirement adds roughly one more foot. Another board member expressed concern about the pool’s proximity to the front property line.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the November 12, 2024 meeting minutes unanimously.
• Directed staff to correct the Board of Adjustment bylaws, including the “vice chair/co-chair” wording and the Section 205 update.
• Elected Christy Fouts as Chairperson and Kenya Kripney as Vice Chairperson for the 2025-26 city fiscal year.
• Approved Variance B26-001 by a 2–1 vote, allowing the front-yard swimming pool and front-yard fence height over four feet, subject to the required pool barrier.
• No future agenda items were identified, and the meeting was adjourned.