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Record of Proceedings

Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - April 15, 2026

City Council & Planning and Zoning — Wednesday, April 15, 2026
BodyLake Havasu City, Arizona
SessionCity Council & Planning and Zoning
DateWednesday, April 15, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 59:56

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0:00

Morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 meeting of the Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission.

0:08

Would you please rise and join me with the pledge?

0:13

I pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America and to the republic for which it stands.

0:20

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

0:29

Madam Secretary, would you please call the role?

0:34

Commissioner Susanna Ballard.

0:37

Commissioner Joan DeZero.

0:39

Here.

0:39

Commissioner Paul Ayer.

0:41

Here.

0:41

Vice Chair Tiffany Wilson.

0:44

Here.

0:45

Commissioner Lonnie Stevenson.

0:48

Chair Jim Harris.

0:50

Here.

0:50

Commissioner Gabrielle Medley.

0:52

Here.

0:52

Commissioner Mary Costa.

0:54

Commissioner JP Thornton.

0:56

Here.

0:56

Commissioner Fillonette.

0:59

All right.

1:00

And we have filled the vacancy for Ms.

1:03

Ballard with Mary Costa.

1:07

Mr.

1:07

Gilbert, correspondence and announcements, please.

1:11

Thank you, Mr.

1:11

Chairman.

1:12

I only have one item for today, and that is the general plan.

1:19

The draft is up on the website for review and comment from uh start on February 17th through April 18th.

1:27

So there's a few days left.

1:29

If you go outside the door, there's some of these forms that are sitting on the table out there, and they have a cue code that you can click on that will get you there.

1:38

So we're still recruiting comments against May as we can before it closes on April 18th.

1:45

That's all I have, Mr.

1:46

Chairman.

1:47

All right, thank you.

1:50

Minutes of the last meeting.

1:51

Are there any additions, deletions, corrections by commissioners of the last minutes meetings or last meetings minutes?

1:59

Easier for me to say.

2:06

Ms.

2:06

Medley.

2:08

Okay, we have a motion by Ms.

2:09

Medley, a second by Mr.

2:10

Thornton to approve the minutes of the last meeting.

2:13

Any further discussion?

2:15

Hearing none, let's call for the question.

2:31

Vice Chair Wilson.

2:34

Yes.

2:43

The motion to approve the minutes passes seven to zero.

2:47

All right.

2:47

Let me just start by saying that this is a public hearing and there is a structured order to this proceeding.

2:52

The city staff will present each item.

2:54

There will be time for the commission to ask questions of the staff, and the applicant will have the opportunity to present their case to the commission.

3:01

That being done, we will then open the proceedings to the public for their questions and input.

3:06

I would ask that anyone on the public that wishes to speak limit their trips to the podium and microphone to one only, keep all comments to less than three minutes, and to stay on point and not discuss subject matter that is not pertinent to the decision being considered here today.

3:21

After public testimony is taken, I will then close the public hearing and bring the motion back to the table for city staff's exceptions and conditions of approval, discussion amongst the commission, and eventually a motion to approve or disapprove.

3:33

And I thank you in advance for your cooperation.

3:36

The first item on today's agenda is ID 26-5174.

3:43

It is a request for a planned development rezone and general development plan of 51 Riviera Drive, which is track 2312, block 1, lot 3b from commercial-commercial and health district to commercial-commercial and health plan development district.

4:06

Um to allow a gas station for fuel sales.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
General Plan██████████████████████████████████████38%
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Transportation Safety████████████████16%
Conditional Use Permit███████████11%
Healthcare District Development███████7%
Environmental Protection█████5%
Water And Wastewater Management██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting - April 15, 2026

The Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission met on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, to consider two rezoning and general development plan requests for a gas station and a car wash in the medical district, both recommended for denial. The meeting began with pledge, roll call, and approval of the previous meeting's minutes.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of the last meeting were approved by a vote of 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • John Perrot (2490 Lima Drive) opposed the gas station, citing traffic congestion on Mesquite Avenue (three lanes, difficult left turns) and arguing the use belongs on C-2 zoned property near Lake Havasu Avenue.
  • David Gothier (1964 Mesquite Avenue) opposed, concerned about traffic and egress for boats and trailers.
  • Jerry Sack (Windsor Beach Condos) opposed both items, expressing disbelief at a gas station in a medical district and predicting traffic back-ups at a new stoplight.
  • Doug Button (via written statement read by Jerry Sack) opposed both proposals, citing incompatibility with medical uses, noise from car wash blowers, loitering concerns, and the need to preserve medical zoning for an aging population.
  • Janine Thornton (resident and nearby business owner) opposed both, citing increased pedestrian and vehicle traffic (including off-road vehicles and boats), youth loitering, and proximity of existing gas stations.
  • Written comments were received and provided to commissioners.

Discussion Items

ID 26-5174: Rezone and GDP for 51 Riviera Drive (Gas Station)

  • Staff Presentation (Chris Gilbert): The 1.43-acre parcel is zoned C-CHD (Commercial Commercial Health District) and the gas station use is not permitted. A planned development rezone and general development plan proposes six fuel pumps, 27 parking spaces (six more than required), a 5,200 sq ft store, an earth-tone facade (brick, glass, metal), and a maximum height of 25 feet. A traffic signal at Mesquite Avenue and Riviera Drive is triggered and will be installed at the developer's expense. No landscaping exceptions were requested.
  • Applicant (Brennan Ray, Circle K): Presented the new Circle K prototype (corporate store) with 20+ security cameras and compliance with all development standards. Argued the eight PD district findings are met, including consistency with the Commercial Mixed Use general plan designation. A traffic study estimates 3,000 daily trips for the convenience store, noting that medical office uses would generate 3–5 times more trips and that most trips are not new but diverted from existing traffic. Environmental protections for underground storage tanks include double-wall tanks, continuous monitoring, daily checks, weekly inspections, and third-party reporting to ADEQ.
  • Commission Discussion:
    • Commissioner Thornton: opposed, stating the proposal undermines the medical district's purpose and potential; more health-related uses are needed.
    • Commissioner Medley: questioned groundwater impact from fuel leaks; applicant detailed tank protections.
    • Commissioner DeZero: pro-business but concerned about losing medical corridor for an aging population (30% over 65) and future growth.
    • Commissioner Lair: opposed due to altering district character and lack of need (8–9 fuel stations within a mile).
    • Chair Harris: noted participation in creating the health care district; praised design but cited traffic and fuel sales zoning as reasons for opposition.
  • Motion: Commissioner Lair moved to recommend denial to City Council; seconded by DeZero. Passed 7-0.

ID 26-5175: Rezone and GDP for 1871 Mesquite Avenue (Car Wash)

  • Staff Presentation: This adjacent 0.98-acre parcel is also zoned C-CHD; car wash is not a permitted use. The general development plan includes stacking lanes, vacuum stations, and no landscaping exceptions. The same traffic signal requirement applies.
  • Applicant (Brennan Ray): Clean Freak car wash (a Circle K division) will operate with reduced hours (summer 7 AM–7:30 PM; winter 7 AM–6:30 PM). An advanced velocity water reclamation system recycles and reuses 81% of water; only 19% new water is used. Filtration meets or exceeds municipal standards for discharge. Noise mitigation includes equipment and construction materials.
  • Public Comments: None.
  • Commission Discussion: Similar concerns about compatibility with the medical district. Commissioners commended the design and expressed willingness to welcome the business in a different location.
  • Motion: Commissioner Thornton moved to recommend denial to City Council; seconded by Medley. Passed 7-0.

Key Outcomes

  • ID 26-5174 (Gas Station): Commission recommended denial by a vote of 7-0. The item will go to City Council for a hearing on May 26, 2026.
  • ID 26-5175 (Car Wash): Commission recommended denial by a vote of 7-0.
  • Future Meetings: The next regular meeting is May 6, 2026 (mandatory offsite public hearing for the General Plan at Lake Havasu USD boardroom, 9 AM). The following meeting on May 20, 2026, will include action and a second required public hearing.
  • General Plan Update: The draft is available for public comment until April 18, 2026; additional comments are being sought.

Meeting Transcript

Morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Wednesday, April 15th, 2026 meeting of the Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission. Would you please rise and join me with the pledge? 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. Madam Secretary, would you please call the role? Commissioner Susanna Ballard. Commissioner Joan DeZero. Here. Commissioner Paul Ayer. Here. Vice Chair Tiffany Wilson. Here. Commissioner Lonnie Stevenson. Chair Jim Harris. Here. Commissioner Gabrielle Medley. Here. Commissioner Mary Costa. Commissioner JP Thornton. Here. Commissioner Fillonette. All right. And we have filled the vacancy for Ms. Ballard with Mary Costa. Mr. Gilbert, correspondence and announcements, please. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I only have one item for today, and that is the general plan. The draft is up on the website for review and comment from uh start on February 17th through April 18th. So there's a few days left. If you go outside the door, there's some of these forms that are sitting on the table out there, and they have a cue code that you can click on that will get you there. So we're still recruiting comments against May as we can before it closes on April 18th. That's all I have, Mr. Chairman. All right, thank you. Minutes of the last meeting. Are there any additions, deletions, corrections by commissioners of the last minutes meetings or last meetings minutes? Easier for me to say. Ms. Medley. Okay, we have a motion by Ms. Medley, a second by Mr. Thornton to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Any further discussion? Hearing none, let's call for the question. Vice Chair Wilson. Yes. The motion to approve the minutes passes seven to zero. All right.

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