The proposed amendment would reclassify the property’s future land use designation in Havasu’s general plan from “neighborhood commercial” to “high density residential.” If the rough plan is revised, it opens the door for rezoning/plan development requests to be considered. Iris is requesting that the lot be rezoned from the current limited commercial district into a new multi-family/planned development. The planned development will increase the maximum density from 20 units per acre typical of multi-family districts to 41 units per acre. It also reduces the front yard setback from 15 feet to 10 feet to allow for parking.

With Iris Development, Mack Hall plans to build a total of 87 units of three-story apartments, each with an outdoor patio or balcony. Plans include 54 one-bedroom units, 24 two-bedroom units, and nine three-bedroom units. All apartments are rented out on long-term leases.

The proposal includes a total of 87 covered parking spaces, 15 uncovered parking spaces and 18 parking spaces for visitors. Planning Division Manager Luke Morris told the Planning and Zoning Commission last month that the parking plan meets the city’s parking requirements.

According to plans, the building will be a total of 39 feet high, measured from the lowest floor, but Morris plans to start on the first floor with about 10 floors, so the multiple family districts will need 30 floors. described as meeting the maximum building height in feet. He’s a foot below the maximum slope of the property along McCulloch, so the building is only about 29 feet taller than the highest point on the site.

Lots owned by Bret and Jodi Deru include 740, 730, 720, 710, 700 and 670 Delta Drive and 681, 691 and 701 S. McCulloch Blvd.

Collectively, these parcels make up approximately half of a commercial island with restricted commercial zoning, surrounded by two family zonings (commonly referred to as R-2 zonings). The rest of the commercial island is located across an alley south of the proposed apartment buildings. A total of 21 lots are included, including two lots currently occupied by Paradise Resort pets.

A public meeting was held on August 18 to discuss the project. Nine neighbors attended. Neighbors were concerned about the increased traffic the apartment buildings would bring to Delta Drive, and some were concerned that it would lead to additional parking on Delta Drive itself, according to a meeting summary. , also expressed concern about the planned driveway to and from the complex.

Hall told the Planning and Zoning Commission that the plan’s driveway was moved based on concerns from neighbors.

“Originally, we had an entrance on the south side of the delta,” says Hall. “Based on recommendations and discussions with our neighbors, we have moved the entrance as close to McCulloch as possible and into an alleyway to provide a secondary entrance. , never circumnavigates the delta.”

Several of the property’s neighbors said during a board meeting that they were still concerned about parking by residents of the apartment complex along Delta Drive.

Speaking in support of the request at a committee meeting, James Gray, director of the Partnership for Economic Development, said the complex meets the need for such housing throughout the city, adding that said it seemed to be in the right place.

“Our housing mix is ​​a mess,” said Gray. “We have a lot of single-family homes, but we don’t have a lot of multi-family housing. The highest percentage of homes sold were valued at 30% or more. , you don’t have access to an apartment complex like the one you’re looking at.”

At its January 18 meeting, the Commission voted 7 to 0 to recommend approval of the General Plan Amendment and 5 to 2 to approve Rezoning/Plan Development. Commissioners Susannah Ballard and Ronnie Stevenson voted against approving the rezone request. Ballard said she had concerns about allowing such high-density development in the area, and about the height of the proposed building.