Planning official previews circulation changes in Bullhead City general plan update

Johnny Louera, of the Bullhead City Planning and Zoning Department, told the Bullhead Area Transit System Commission on Monday that the city is preparing an update to its general plan circulation element and expects to present it to the City Council on June 16 ahead of a November ballot measure.

Louera said the general plan, last updated in 2016, is a "road map" for the community's development priorities and that the circulation element documents existing conditions, recent projects and a set of goals and policies. He listed recent projects that informed the draft, including the Laughlin Ranch Boulevard extension, a new bridge at the south end of the parkway, the Merrill Intersection and recent highway repaving and new right'turn lanes.

The draft circulation goals highlighted by Louera include adding new east'west connections between the highway and the parkway, improving north'south access (including a project to extend a connector between the parkway and Highway 68), supporting the local transit system, and strengthening cooperation with Laughlin and the Bullhead City MPO, which will undertake a long'range plan in coming months.

Commissioners asked for clarifications about specific elements of the draft. One commissioner raised a concern about a light pole removed for Highway 95 construction (identified in discussion as pole "236"). Louera said he would check with the public works director to confirm whether that pole and others would be reinstalled once construction finishes.

Another commissioner asked why the draft encourages landscape median barriers on some roads. Louera said medians are primarily for safety, though they can be modified when necessary to allow access such as a left'turn cut for a future Olive Garden site; he added the city has removed some ADOT'installed medians where appropriate.

Commissioners also requested a higher'resolution map of the circulation proposals; Louera said he would provide one and invited public feedback through the city's general plan update web page, which links to the existing plan, the draft update and a public survey.

The presentation closed with Louera asking commissioners and the public to review the draft goals and provide input as staff prepares for council review and the November ballot placement.