River Cities Business Journal: Real Estate

Havasu spells out shoreline plan; Riverwalk district to have a bevy of new guidelines

Today's News-Herald

LAKE HAVASU CITY - A unanimous vote by the Lake Havasu City Council on April 22 in favor of creating a new “Riverwalk” district along the Bridgewater Channel represented a victory for proponents of redevelopment in the area.

The district plan opens up the area for the first time to long-term residential development such as condominiums, and gives developers the option of building 60 feet and higher.

The ordinance creating the district amends the city's development code, creating a uniform standard for all parcels in the area.

Those standards govern building height, public access to the shoreline, mixed-use and residential elements, open space, and design review by city officials. The key issues addressed by the district are:

Building Heights

Under the new plan, all parcels will have the ability to build up to 60 feet in height. Those seeking to build higher will need to seek specific Council approval for their project. The 60 feet will be measured from the top of the London Bridge, making the true height of the buildings about 90 feet. Depending on floor size, that would be the equivalent of a six to nine story building. As buildings rise in height, they must also recede from the channel, creating a “stair-step” effect. Also, greater height must be offset by additional open space and landscaping.

Residential Component

All parcels in the area will now have the option of adding a residential component, such as condominiums or apartments. Proponents of the district have argued that for developers to invest in the area, they need to be able to sell residential units to make projects “pencil out.” A change to the plan by Mayor Mark Nexsen will cap the number of condos in the district at 336.

Shoreline Access

The district will ensure a 40-foot pedestrian easement along the Channel, with additional 15-foot easement for public access.

Design Review

The Planning and Zoning Commission will review applications to ensure that projects in the district meet criteria for open space, shoreline access, and a variety of architectural standards designed to create “view corridors” onto the channel. Applications rejected by the commission can be appealed to the City Council.

One major hurdle remains for the new district - before many of its changes can be applied, the council must make a major amendment to the city's general plan.

Major amendments can only be made once each year, and so the plan must wait until later this summer to fully go into effect.