Lake Havasu City planning commission approves wide-ranging zoning code amendments

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. — The Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously Dec. 18 to approve a package of amendments to Title 14 of the Lake Havasu City Code that changes permitted uses, definitions and use-specific standards across multiple zoning districts and forwards the ordinance to city council for final action.

City staff said the revisions update the 2016 development code to reflect how the code has been used in practice and to split some uses that staff and commissioners agreed are different in intensity or effect. "The current definition of residential care facility is 6 or more, which is not really in line with the requirements of the fire department," Luke, a city planning staff member, told the commission during the public hearing and discussion.

The commission’s action sends the amended permitted‑use table (Table 3‑1), related definition updates and changes to use‑specific standards to the city council. Staff framed the package as a housekeeping and operational update after several smaller edits to the code in prior years; commissioners debated several items in detail before endorsing the full package.

Key changes and discussion points

- Residential care facilities and continuing care retirement communities: Staff proposed aligning residential care thresholds with fire and building rules; commissioners raised fair‑housing and practical concerns and decided not to lower the threshold during the meeting. Commissioners also discussed whether continuing care retirement communities should require a conditional use permit (CUP) or be permitted outright in certain mixed‑use and multifamily zones. The commission agreed to expand permitted status in several mixed‑use districts and to limit the change to higher‑density residential zones (R‑3 and above), while recognizing projects may still require planned‑development rezonings to meet parking and density requirements.

- Animal uses: The commission split the existing "animal care and boarding" category into two separate uses: "animal boarding" (including outdoor runs and multi‑day boarding) and "animal grooming and care" (primarily indoor grooming/training). Commissioners agreed animal grooming should be allowed as a permitted use in most mixed‑use and commercial zones, while boarding remains more restricted and may require a conditional use permit in certain districts. The commission clarified that veterinary hospitals remain a separate category and that veterinary facilities may provide temporary on‑site boarding related to medical care.

- Caretaker/watchman quarters: The package introduced a new definition and use‑specific standard for accessory caretaker quarters (a site‑built dwelling unit used for 24‑hour care, supervision or security accessory to a nonresidential use). Commissioners asked staff to add an explicit limit (one caretaker unit per site) and to prefer site‑built construction rather than permitting manufactured units as automatic accessory dwellings. The commission removed a separate "dwelling live/work" permissive entry in light industrial zoning and folded caretaker provisions into the accessory use language.

- Medical uses: Commissioners and staff moved to allow medical offices and clinics in the UMS (mixed‑use) and mixed‑use general districts and maintained hospital uses in the Commercial Health District while excluding them from the primarily residential mixed‑use neighborhood districts. The commission also added libraries and similar community uses as permitted in certain mixed‑use districts.

- Commercial and resort uses: The commission clarified how restaurants, hotels, conference facilities and resort‑related uses are treated in the Island/Body Beach district and in golf course zoning, keeping some resort and conference facilities as accessory to golf courses and allowing island‑oriented resort uses where state/federal ownership and shoreline rules permit.

- Gas stations and vehicle uses: Staff proposed a separate definition for gas stations (fuel pumps with incidental/minor service) distinct from light vehicle service and repair. The commission agreed to separate those categories so gas stations (with convenience retail) and vehicle service uses are regulated on their own terms and placed in appropriate districts.

- Parking and island rules: The amended table keeps a note limiting certain Southgate parking facilities to short‑term parking (no more than 24 hours) and retains language that parking facilities on the Island/Body Beach are limited to the island and must be public facilities.

Process, outcome and next steps

No members of the public addressed the commission during the hearing. After the staff presentation and discussion, Commissioner Still moved to approve the changes as discussed; Commissioner Chad Nelson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously and staff will forward the ordinance amendments, related definition edits and the revised permitted‑use table to the Lake Havasu City Council for consideration.

What was discussion vs. formal action

Commissioners debated (discussion) several thresholds, permitted vs. conditional status for particular uses, and the details of caretaker quarters and animal boarding. The formal action was a single motion to approve the full package "as discussed" and forward it to city council; the motion passed unanimously. Several commissioners noted that permitted status for some uses will not eliminate review for large or high‑density projects, which will still require planned developments or other approvals to address parking, sprinklers and site‑specific impacts.

Ending

The commission closed the public hearing after no public speakers came forward and adjourned for the day. The city council will review the recommended code changes in a future legislative session, at which time additional public hearing and council deliberation will occur.