Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting - August 6, 2025
Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting - August 6, 2025
The Planning and Zoning Commission met on August 6, 2025, at 9:00 AM in the Council Chambers. Chair Jim Harris presided, with Commissioners Joan Dzuro, Paul Lehr (recused), Lonnie Stevenson, Mary Costa, JP Thornton, and Phil Annett present. Commissioners Suzannah Ballard, Tiffany Wilson, and Gabriele Medley were absent. Four vacancies at the dais led to the alternates being seated. The meeting focused on one public hearing for a planned development rezone, along with consent items and administrative announcements.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes (July 16, 2025): The minutes from the July 16, 2025, regular meeting were approved unanimously (6-0) with a motion by Commissioner Annett, seconded by Commissioner Thornton.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Hearing for ID 25-4881: No members of the public spoke during the public hearing for the planned development rezone. The public hearing was opened and closed with no comments.
- Call to Public: No members of the public addressed the commission during the general call to public at the end of the meeting.
Discussion Items
- Announcements (Planning Division Manager Chris Gilbert):
- City Council unanimously approved the Planned Development for Desert Sky Townhomes at 700 Delta Drive on July 22, 2025.
- The General Plan Update audit of goals and policies has been sent to Council Members, Commissioners, and members of the Technical Advisory (TAC) and General Plan Steering Committees (GPSC). Commissioners were encouraged to review and provide feedback. The GPSC will meet on August 13, 2025.
- Future meetings: The August 20, 2025, regular meeting is canceled; the next regular meeting is September 3, 2025; a General Plan update will be presented at the September 17, 2025, meeting.
- Public Hearing ID 25-4881: Planned Development Rezone at 669 Lake Havasu Avenue N:
- City Planner Trevor Kearns presented the request to rezone the 1.66-acre property from General Commercial (C-2) to General Commercial/Planned Development (C-2/PD) to allow outdoor storage in front of the primary structure (a 12,500 sq. ft. commercial building) and to exceed the area of the primary structure. The site is at the corner of Lake Havasu Avenue N and Industrial Boulevard, with Highway 95 to the west. Staff recommended a 6-foot concrete masonry unit wall as a perimeter screen and a 6-foot maximum height for stored materials. The item will go to City Council on September 9, 2025.
- Applicant Paul Lehr (Lehr Architecture) affirmed the staff presentation and was available for questions.
- Commissioner Stevenson asked about the location of the proposed wall and potential sight-line issues for right turns from Industrial Boulevard onto Lake Havasu Avenue. Mr. Kearns explained the site plan includes a cutback at the corner to meet city sight-distance standards, and dimensions will be confirmed during design review. Commissioner Stevenson also asked about existing precedents for a 6-foot wall in front of a building; Mr. Kearns noted that while front-yard storage is atypical, 6-foot screening walls are common throughout the city. Commissioner Thornton asked about the rear of the property; Mr. Kearns stated an existing chain-link fence will remain, and Mr. Lehr clarified that the General Development Plan shows the fence will be slatted to provide additional screening from Highway 95. Mr. Lehr cited Modern Edge Stone as a similar example with a screened outdoor storage yard.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Recommend Approval of ID 25-4881: Commissioner Dzuro moved to recommend approval of the Planned Development Rezone and General Development Plan to the City Council with staff's four recommended conditions: (1) development shall substantially match the General Development Plan, (2) a 6-foot-tall concrete masonry unit wall as a perimeter barrier, (3) storage materials at a maximum height of 6 feet, and (4) building permits and design review required prior to development. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Annett and passed unanimously (6-0). The item will be heard by City Council on September 9, 2025.
Meeting Transcript
Well for a tax credit. And from now through June 2022, cash donations to community school meal programs, specific student health care supplies, and playground equipment are also eligible for a tax credit. When you make your contribution to one of our schools, you are in control. Because instead of giving your money to the state in taxes, your money stays right here in our community, directly helping our children. Plus, you can specify which program or activity will receive your money. You can contribute to one program in one school or spread it out over several programs or multiple schools in the district. You decide. Or simply leave it to us to allocate your donation to the students who need it most. The Arizona Tax Credit Program is your chance to make an important contribution toward the education of a child you already know or a child you have yet to meet. And pay less tax to the state. To get your credit for this tax year, make your contribution to any one of our district schools right now. Visit the Lake Havasu Unified School District webpage at WW.lhusd.org and make your donation online or call 928-505-6900 and make your tax credit donation today. Morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the Wednesday, August 6th, 2025 meeting of the Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission. If you'll please rise and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. And Madam Secretary, would you please call the roll? Commissioner Susanna Ballard. Commissioner Joan DeZero. Here. Commissioner Paul Air is recused today. Commissioner Tiffany Wilson. Commissioner Lonnie Stevenson. Chair Jim Harris. Here. Commissioner Gabrielle Medley. Commissioner Mary Costa. Commissioner JP Thornton. Commissioner Fillinette. All right. So we've called up all three of our alternates and welcome them to the Diaz. Mr. Gilbert. Correspondence and announcements? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the 22nd of July, City Council approved the Desert Sky Townhomes Project by unanimous vote. So they've already been in to pre-app with us, so that looks like it's going to be moving forward. On the general plan, the general plan audit has been sent out and highly encouraged to get as many comments as possible on that regarding the different goals, objectives, policies from our current plan that uh as to which ones worth keeping, which ones need to be amended, that kind of thing. So all the more comments we get the better. And then finally on August 13th, the steering committee is holding its next minute meeting for the general plan. That's all I have. All right. Thank you, Mr. Gilbert. Um minutes of the last meeting. Are there any additions, deletions, corrections to the minutes of the last meeting by commissioners? Anyone? We are at the table for a motion and or discussion. Mr.
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