At the Oct. 2 study session the Prescott Valley Town Council received a presentation on the town’s draft affordable housing plan, developed under a grant from the Arizona Department of Housing. Town staff introduced consultant T. Van Hook, who summarized the plan’s purpose, structure and next steps.

“T. Van Hook, consultant” told the council the plan combines a comprehensive housing needs assessment, barriers-reduction initiatives, an implementation action plan and an education and engagement strategy as required by the grant. The consultant summarized four major focus areas: neighborhood and housing preservation, employer-supported workforce housing, new owner-occupied units, and preservation of affordable rental units.

Why it matters: Preserving and increasing affordable housing stock affects local employers, health providers and residents. The consultant said some levers fall within municipal control (such as zoning and incentive programs) but many drivers of housing affordability — land costs, materials, labor and finance — are outside municipal control.

The plan, Van Hook said, reviews national and regional initiatives, compares local conditions with peer jurisdictions and offers a menu of tactical options under each focus area. On rental preservation, the consultant highlighted that properties financed with low-income housing tax credits may reach the end of required affordability periods and need municipal or partner support to retain below-market rents.

Next steps outlined to the council include an extensive community outreach effort required by the Arizona Department of Housing grant, to be completed over the coming months, followed by a return to the council with refined recommendations and an annual action plan that town staff can implement.

Council members asked staff to provide current local vacancy-rate data; presenters said the Pollock housing needs assessment in the packet contains occupancy numbers and that staff could provide an updated vacancy rate to the council. No formal council action was taken at the Oct. 2 session.