Mohave County panel approves curb exception for Fort Mohave Airpark after drainage and fire station concerns

The Mohave County Planning and Zoning Commission on a voice vote approved a petition of exception that allows Fort Mohave Airpark (Tract 4238) to use a thickened pavement edge instead of the county's standard curb-and-gutter street section.

The petition of exception was presented by county staff as an item to waive the typical curb and gutter cross section for the proposed airpark subdivision in the Fort Mohave vicinity. Staff noted Mohave County Public Works reviewed the request and had no objection. James Lambert, who identified his address as 5096 South Antelope Drive, Fort Mohave, spoke as the applicant and said he was available to answer questions.

The request drew multiple public speakers and detailed technical discussion. Chris Pardee, fire chief of the Fort Mohave Mesa Fire Department, said the development's drainage plan must be clear to avoid flooding the department's aging fire station and nearby homes. "It is imperative that we have a clear comprehensive information about the drainage plan to avoid future complications," Pardee said, and noted the department had secured $2,200,000 in ARPA funds to rebuild the station.

Resident Sandra Thomas presented maps and photos and urged the commission to preserve a rollover curb with at least six inches of height to divert water toward the center of the street and away from Joy Lane and the fire station. Thomas pointed to existing neighborhood curbs and three planned retention ponds on the property and asked how eliminating curbs would affect stormwater flow.

The applicant and county staff responded that the proposed roads are inverted (crowned toward the center) so surface runoff would travel to the middle of the roadway and then to the retention ponds; staff and the applicant said there are three major retention ponds and that the roadway invert and engineered drainage features would convey water to existing drainage easements. The applicant described the edge treatment as an "8-inch turn down for 12 inches wide" — a thickened edge of pavement designed to protect the asphalt edge while allowing aircraft taxiing to individual lots.

Commissioners questioned whether curbs would allow safe aircraft access to private hangars, whether removing rolled curbs would increase erosion, and whether drainage engineering and final plat approval would address outstanding concerns. County staff noted this petition was processed following a previously approved preliminary plat, and that final plat approval (including flood control and public works sign-off) is required before lots can be sold or built.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to adopt the petition of exception; the motion was seconded by Vice Chair Gillette and carried on a voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Ending: The commission approved the curb-and-gutter exception with the record noting that flood control and public works must sign off on the final plat and construction documents before build-out. Commissioners and public speakers repeatedly emphasized that engineered drainage details and retention ponds would need to be enforced at final-plat stage to protect Joy Lane properties and the local fire station.