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Planning commission recommends city council approve Marina View rezone to eight single-family lots, retains 60-foot height limit
Summary
The Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-0 to recommend that City Council approve a planned development amendment at 2250 Marina View Avenue that replaces a previously approved townhome plan with eight single-family lots, applies R-1 setback standards and retains a previously authorized 60-foot maximum building height.
LAKE HAVASU CITY — The Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday recommended that the City Council approve a planned development rezone and amended general development plan for 2250 Marina View Avenue that replaces a higher-density townhome layout with eight detached single-family lots.
The commission voted 7-0 to recommend approval of the plan development amendment for Tract 2399, Block 1, Lot 75, a roughly 2.31-acre parcel in the Riviera master-plan community. The motion retains the previously approved maximum allowable building height of up to 60 feet, applies single-family residential (R-1) setback standards to principal and accessory buildings, and exempts the requirements of city code section 14.02.04(a)(4)(b), as requested by the applicant.
Why it matters: The change reduces planned residential density on a prominent Marina View parcel from a site plan that previously anticipated up to 17 attached units to a layout of eight single-family homes. The amendment preserves a flexible, previously authorized height limit and clarifies that future permits must follow single-family setback rules — an outcome that affects future home design and neighborhood compatibility.
Staff presentation and recommendation: City planning staff explained this parcel is part of the Havasu Riviera master-plan community and has had previous approvals and plan iterations. Planning staff recommended that, for code compliance, all principal and accessory structures meet the single-family residential R-1 setback standards because the proposal converts the site from townhomes to detached single-family lots.
Applicant remarks: Michael Gordon of Desert Land Group, the applicant, told the commission the parcel has been marketed for roughly five years without market interest in the previously approved townhome product and that the developer intends to move forward with eight single-family lots "consistent with the Marina View neighborhood." Gordon said the underlying zoning and conditions remain unchanged except for the amended development plan.
Height discussion: Commissioners questioned whether the 60-foot height allowance was still necessary. Gordon said the 60-foot figure was part of the original Marina View approvals (initially intended to allow a hotel) and that the developer sought to retain the flexibility rather than revert to the MUN base limit of 25 feet. Gordon added that two-story home designs in the area typically would not approach 60 feet and estimated the highest built homes nearby are about 36 to 40 feet above baseline elevation.
Staff clarified that the MUN base height limit is 25 feet and that an RE residential district, for comparison, has a 30-foot two-story limit. Staff also noted the 60-foot allowance appeared in earlier ordinances that affected the area and that the commission could recommend a different limit if it chose to do so.
Public comment and next steps: No members of the public spoke on the item during the public hearing. After discussion, Commissioner Susanna Ballard moved to recommend approval with the stated conditions; the motion was seconded and passed 7-0. The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final action.
Votes at a glance: The planning commission recommended approval of agenda item ID 254739 (2250 Marina View Avenue) by a 7-0 vote.
Background details: The current request amends a 2022 general development plan that originally anticipated a higher-density townhome project that never was built; the applicant is proposing a lower-density configuration of eight detached homes. The parcel sits adjacent to a neighborhood pool and a mixed-use general (MUG) parcel that the applicant says will include a mixed-use building and community amenities.
What remains to be decided: City Council review and ordinance language will determine the final zoning conditions and whether the 60-foot height allowance remains in the adopted ordinance. If council approves, the individual lots will proceed through the standard permitting process and design review before building permits are issued.
