STAFF REPORT
TO: Planning & Zoning Commission Members
FROM: Planning Division Staff
REQUEST:Title
Request to Amend Lake Havasu City Code Sections 14.02.04(D) and 14.02.05(G), Mixed Use-Channel Riverwalk District and Island-Body Beach District, to Preserve Shoreline Public Access (Chris Gilbert)
Body
APPLICATION BACKGROUND:
The proposed text amendments included in this request, and attached as tracked changes, are necessary in response to comments received from community members and the 2026 General Plan Steering Committee (GPSC) regarding protection of the remaining undeveloped Arizona State Land owned shoreline around the Island and Body Beach. The 2026 General Plan Update, along with the recently approved Waterfront Planned Development on the former Island Nautical golf course property, served as catalysts for the current effort to strengthen shoreline protections beyond the 15-foot public access easement currently required in the Island-Body Beach District (I-B) and the absence of any such requirement in the Mixed Use-Channel Riverwalk District (MU-CRW).
The majority of property within the I-B District is owned by the Arizona State Land Department. City staff have been meeting with the Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) over the past several months to negotiate an acceptable compromise that will both preserve reasonable public access to the Island and Body Beach shoreline and ensure that the State of Arizona can still obtain appropriate value for its land asset upon sale. Negotiations to date have resulted in a proposed 75-foot public access area parallel to the shoreline and perpendicular access route(s) to public rights-of-way, although ASLD is continuing to review the proposed text amendments.
The GPSC focused on the issue of shoreline protection at their last two meetings, on February 4, 2026, and April 29, 2026, following the approval of the Waterfront project, which provides an average 100-foot shoreline public access area. The GPSC recommended staff to move forward with the public access area agreed upon with ALSD, which is reflected in these proposed text amendments.
ATTACHMENTS:
Tracked Changes Development Code Amendments
Proposed Amended Development Code Section
COMPLIANCE WITH DEVELOPMENT CODE:
The proposed amendments will significantly increase shoreline public access protection, expanding the required access area from the current 15 feet to 75 feet.
POSSIBLE MOTIONS::Recommended Action
I move to recommend approval of Land Use Action No. 26-5252 to the City Council amending Lake Havasu City Code Sections 14.02.04(D) and 14.02.05(G) to preserve shoreline public access.
I move to not recommend approval of Land Use Action No. 26-5252 to the City Council amending Lake Havasu City Code Sections 14.02.04(D) and 14.02.05(G) to preserve shoreline public access.