By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
While metro Phoenix and Tucson may get 99% of the attention, no part of the state is immune to the need for more housing units and greater density, as illustrated by two cases in Lake Havasu City this month.
The first proposal would put 87 new units on 2.6 acres on South McCulloch Blvd., while the second would rezone five acres of an overall 22-acre site that was originally planned for resort development to now allow for multifamily at up to eight units per acre.
Delta Apartments
Project representative Iris Development Services, PLLC is requesting a General Plan amendment and rezoning of 2.6 acres at South McCulloch Blvd. and Delta Drive from Limited Commercial to Residential Multiple-Family/Planned Development for an 87-unit multifamily development called Delta Apartments.
The planned mix calls for 54 one-bedroom, 24 two-bedroom and nine three-bedroom units, all in a three-story building of fewer than 30 feet in height. According to the letter of intent accompanying the submission, “The owner/developer is a local construction contractor who has deep roots in the Lake Havasu area and is looking to provide much needed housing opportunities for the workforce rental market.”
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended both requests for approval in its Jan. 18 meeting.
Meridian Custom Builders is the project owner and general contractor. Selberg Associates, Inc. is the design firm. Construction is expected to begin in the fall or winter of this year.
Grand Island Estates
The second project is part of an attempt to divide a 22-acre area on Beachcomber Blvd. The site was originally intended for commercial, hotel and casitas development under the Villages at the Island Planned Development, which was later renamed Grand Island Estates.
Under this proposal, an 18-acre parcel owned by James Rohl would be divided into 55 residential lots. The remaining 5 acres, owned by Mike Patel, would be rezoned from its current Mixed-Use Neighborhood Planned Development to Residential Multiple Family Planned Development. This zoning would allow for up to 20 units per acre. Patel, however, plans to build eight units per acre.
Both owners are represented by Desert Land Group.
Both portions of the request have encountered significant resident opposition, primarily due to worries about traffic, neighborhood character and the impact of more residents in the island area. Several opponents said the traffic and associated delays are already excessive and they could not support any new development until a planned second bridge is built. There is currently no timeline for that bridge’s development.
An amendment to the land use map was approved for both portions in the Jan. 10 City Council meeting. Rezoning was granted for the 18-acre single-family section, but the five-acre multifamily portion was pulled from the agenda. No rehearing date was given and the future status is unknown as of press time.
Other Lake Havasu Multifamily Developments
Desert Land Group is the developer behind the only multifamily project to be proposed and completed since 2016. The 90-unit Lake Havasu Views Senior Independent Living Community is the first phase of a possible three phase continued care retirement community. The 90-unit phase was completed in 2019, and there have been no new plans developed for subsequent phases.
There is currently only one other multifamily project of any significant size in the works for Lake Havasu City. Greens Group plans to build the 65-unit Mizrahi Apartments & Condominiums at 140 Park Avenue. The planned unit mix is 41 condominium units and 24 apartments.
Construction start was originally planned for May of last year but has been pushed back several times in the intervening months. No planned start date is currently available.
