Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Commercial Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission clears parking amendment and conditional-use permit for new Maricopa Drive drive-through car wash
Summary
The commission approved removing four lots from a Block 2257 parking-in-common plan and granted a conditional-use permit for a drive-through car wash on Maricopa Drive; supporters said the South Side is underserved, an existing car-wash owner warned of competition, and staff said parking and design review will be handled during building review.
The Lake Havasu City Planning and Zoning Commission on Dec. 19 approved two linked land-use requests that clear the way for a drive-through car wash on Maricopa Drive in the Commercial Southgate District: (1) an amendment to the parking-in-common master plan removing Lots 11 through 14 of Tract 2257 Block 10, and (2) a conditional-use permit to allow a drive-through car wash on those lots.
City staff presented both items together and recommended approval of the parking-in-common amendment and the conditional-use permit after concluding the amendment had "minimal impact on the overall implementation of the adopted parking in common plan for Block 10 of Tract 2257." Staff noted the subject lots are narrow commercial parcels and that much of the block already has been altered from the original parking-in-common configuration.
The applicant, Jeff Daddam, described the operation and said there is space for employee parking in the rear. "We do have quite a bit of room in the back of the property, the employee parking, there's 4 spaces in the back. A property like this is run at any given time with 3 to 4 people," Daddam said. He added the rear bays would also be used for by-appointment detailing and occasional overflow from the proprietor's other location.
Not all speakers supported the project. Travis Croot, owner of AZ Auto Spa (an existing car wash a few hundred yards away), said he has "a huge concern" about another car wash so close to his business and said it could threaten his livelihood. By contrast, Jarrett Ports, former owner of Car Toys Car Wash, supported the project and described Lake Havasu as an "underserved market" for modern, high-throughput washes.
Commissioner Chad Nelson moved to approve the parking-in-common amendment (Land Use Action ID 19-18-63). The motion was seconded and passed 5-0. Later, Commissioner Stu Still moved to approve the conditional-use permit (CUP 19-3-1; Land Use Action ID 19-18-66) to allow the drive-through car wash; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Commission discussion focused on parking and operational impacts. Staff and commissioners noted that design review and building-code checks remain and said those reviews will determine final parking allocations and other site details. Commissioners said they could place conditions on the CUP if necessary (for example, designated employee parking or limits on hours) but did not add additional conditions at the meeting.
The commission recorded the approvals as an amendment to the parking-in-common plan (removing Lots 11'14) and the conditional-use permit to allow a drive-through car wash in the Commercial Southgate District.
