Council approves sale of small London Bridge parcel after owner agrees to deed restriction for public restrooms

Lake Havasu City — The City Council on March 24 approved Resolution 26-3900 to vacate and convey Parcel J, a roughly 2,000‑square‑foot city‑owned strip at London Bridge, to owners of the adjacent lots after the purchaser and London Bridge Plaza Inc. agreed to record a deed restriction ensuring public restroom facilities remain available.

The decision followed an extended public hearing and questions from council members about whether selling the parcel would remove restroom access that many event attendees and businesses rely on. Mr. Gilbert, a city staff member presenting the item, said the parcel has been improved and maintained under a long‑standing license agreement and that the city has no immediate plans for the breezeway itself.

Council Member Nancy Campbell pressed staff and the applicant on the public‑service implications, noting that the parcel hosts one of two restroom buildings serving the plaza and that the city previously paid for a public restroom nearby. Jim Harris, speaking as the applicant’s representative, told council he and the owner “would have no problem in putting a deed restriction on that.” Council amended the sale motion to make the deed restriction a condition of approval; the motion passed 7–0.

The amended agreement removes Parcel J from the city’s 1998 license with London Bridge Plaza Inc. and leaves the association responsible for coordinating restroom access and maintenance under the new private‑owner arrangement. City staff said the deed restriction will be included in the lot‑combination and county recording steps that finalize the parcel transfer.

Members of the public and association representatives described the restrooms as heavily used during events and by visitors to London Bridge. Joan McDermott, secretary of the London Bridge Plaza Association, confirmed the association helped build and maintain the bathrooms and said the group supports the sale provided the replacement facilities are guaranteed.

The council’s condition requires the purchaser to record language ensuring restroom facilities equivalent to the existing public restrooms will be provided and available; staff and the applicant said they will include the restriction as part of the lot‑combination approval process and the county recording. The resolution and recorded deed restriction, staff said, will specify the public‑access requirement and the timing for replacement facilities.

Council members noted the sale will provide fair market value for the city parcel while preserving public restroom access if the deed restriction and lot‑combination proceed as described. The license agreement that governs other London Bridge parcels was also updated and approved in a separate vote to reflect the removal of Parcel J and to reaffirm maintenance responsibilities for parcels D and L.

The council voted 7–0 to approve the conveyance contingent on the deed restriction and separately approved the updated license agreement with London Bridge Plaza, Inc., also by a 7–0 vote.