Lake Havasu City planning commission opens 60-day review of 2026 general plan update

Lake Havasu City staff presented an update on the 2026 general plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 18, 2026, opening a 60-day public comment period that began Feb. 17 and runs through mid‑April.

Mr. Gilbert, a city staff member presenting the item, told the commission the update "will not require any action by the commission" at this stage and serves as the long‑range guide for the city's growth and development. He said the project has completed steps one through three and is now in step four, where draft chapters have been developed and reviewed by staff and the technical advisory committee.

The presentation said outreach has used pop‑up events, in‑person and virtual workshops, social media, radio, and other channels. "To date, we've engaged more than 22,000 community members," Mr. Gilbert said, and staff has used a steering committee and technical advisory committee to review draft material. He listed five aspirational themes shaping the plan: balanced growth and land use; connected community and infrastructure; prosperous economy and cost of development; thriving residential areas and housing; and healthy environment, parks and culture.

Mr. Gilbert emphasized the draft does not change the current development code or zoning map and that any future changes would require a separate legislative public hearing process.

He outlined the public review schedule: the 60‑day comment window runs from Feb. 17 to about Apr. 17–18; an open house is scheduled Feb. 25 at the Mojave County Library from 5 to 7 p.m.; tentative Planning and Zoning hearings are set for May 6 and May 20; City Council action is tentatively scheduled for June 9; and voter ratification would appear on the November ballot.

Commissioners pressed staff on outreach details. Commissioner Susanna Ballard and another commissioner (identified in the record as Miss Zuro) asked whether workshop feedback favored local "mom‑and‑pop" businesses or national chains; Mr. Gilbert said the input included interest in both local businesses and some national names residents said they want, and that the shoreline and waterfront project dominated discussion about parks and the environment.

During the public comment period, resident and steering‑committee member Ameliano Torres challenged the outreach process and the weighting of inputs. Torres said some workshops were sparsely attended and asked for transparency about who provided input, when it was submitted and how responses were weighted; he warned he might vote against the plan unless he sees major changes. Other participants and steering‑committee members disputed Torres's characterization of low attendance, and staff clarified that while a consultant attended one meeting virtually, multiple city staff, council members and commissioners attended in person.

The presentation materials and staff comments repeatedly stressed the difficulty of compelling public participation even with broad outreach; staff noted online engagement can include snowbirds and visitors but said most hits likely came from people with local ties. The commission did not take formal action on the general plan at the Feb. 18 meeting; Mr. Gilbert described the item as an informational update and invited questions and public comment.

The commission also approved the minutes of its Jan. 21, 2026 meeting by a 7–0 vote earlier in the session.

The city is inviting written comments during the 60‑day review and will host the Feb. 25 open house at the Mojave County Library. The draft document and an appendix listing outreach venues and contacts are available for public review as described in the staff presentation.