Prescott Board of Adjustment approves reduced setbacks to legalize historic compound

The City of Prescott Board of Adjustment on March 20 approved a variance to reduce the minimum yard setback from 7 feet to 5 feet to bring several historic structures into compliance and allow a revision of parcel lines, the board decided in a 6-0 vote.

The variance, filed as V25-5, applies to Article 3, Section 3.6.3(f) of the City of Prescott Land Development Code and will let the property owner replat three existing parcels into two so that buildings no longer straddle lot lines. Tammy Duet, community planner for the city, told the board the structures on the site were built before current zoning and “this will allow them to remain as they are and have the property line going between the 2 houses with a 5 foot setback in between the structures.”

City staff presented the property as a historic area with multiple outbuildings and two contributing houses. Duet said the split zoning and older parcel lines left some structures partially across property lines; the requested change would remove a problematic line, create two conforming parcels and eliminate legal nonconformities that otherwise could force demolition or other alterations. Notices were mailed within 300 feet, the property was posted and a notice published in the newspaper; staff reported no written objections.

Charlie Reyes, who identified himself as a family member and applicant representative, said the property is held in the Neely Trust and the owners remodeled one dwelling. Reyes said the goal was to correct title issues so a title company would complete transactions, adding that one small glass greenhouse on the site would be removed to meet the reduced setbacks. “There is the structure that we were talking about taking down is an old greenhouse ... it's just an old glass greenhouse that's been there for years,” Reyes said.

Board members asked staff to clarify unit counts in the packet; Mary Frederickson flagged a discrepancy in the staff memo that listed three residences and five accessory buildings. Duet corrected that the site contains three parcels with two residences and five accessory buildings and said the “three residences” wording in the packet was a typo.

During discussion a board member asked whether the east/northeast line would be removed and whether the resulting parcel would be about 46,600 square feet; staff and the applicant confirmed the change would consolidate the parcels and create larger conforming lots. No members of the public spoke in opposition during the hearing.

After discussion, Mark Holness moved to approve the variance as submitted; Miriam Hobrick seconded. The motion passed on a 6-0 roll call. The board did not attach additional conditions beyond the standard platting and building-permit processes needed to effect the change.

The approval allows the applicant to proceed with a replat so that existing historic structures are not divided by property lines; building permits and any required demolition of the small greenhouse remain subject to normal city review and code compliance.