Yavapai supervisors approve narrower private road pavement for Springfield at Granite Mountain after heated public comment

The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Feb. 5 to approve a waiver of county road-design standards that reduces planned private road pavement in the 223-acre Springfield at Granite Mountain Phase 1 subdivision from 30 feet to 24 feet, while requiring 4-foot compacted aggregate shoulders on each side and a minimum 26-foot clear width at locations with fire hydrants.

The vote followed a multi-hour staff presentation and extensive public comment from neighbors, developers and fire officials. The waiver applies to privately owned and maintained roads within Phase 1, which contains 69 single-family lots under the approved Planned Area Development (PAD) zoning. Planning Manager Matt Blake told the board the waiver would not change the recorded plat itself but would allow reduced pavement width on construction plans; Public Works provided recommended conditions that the developer must meet.

Why it matters: Supervisors and speakers framed the issue as a mix of technical fire‑safety requirements and neighborhood concerns about future connectivity and construction impacts. Supporters said the narrower pavement plus 4-foot aggregate shoulders improves…