Board grants height variance for home at 1558 Standing Eagle to 43 feet due to steep topography

The Prescott Board of Adjustments on Feb. 20 approved a variance to allow a home at 1558 Standing Eagle to exceed the 35‑foot residential height limit and reach a maximum height of 43 feet to accommodate steep site topography and driveway slope constraints.

City staff, represented by George (planning/traffic staff), said the property’s steep natural grade and north‑south valley topography limit options for moving the house to flatter ground without shortening the driveway or violating driveway steepness limits used for emergency access (staff cited an 18% maximum for driveway slope). Staff presented nearby examples, described how natural‑grade measurement determines the code height calculation and noted that several nearby homes used similar design approaches. Staff told the board it reviewed the application against variance criteria, including potential detriment to nearby properties, self‑imposed hardship and neighborhood character, and recommended approval.

Tom Terry, the architect for the applicant (Distinctive Homes and Architecture), said the homeowners had HOA approval for the design and that the roof and tile roofing requirement favored a steeper roof pitch. Terry said the project included significant work to import fill and shape a pad so visible heights from the street would be reduced.

Pat Fuge, a representative of the HOA, said a nearby house with a similar, slightly shallower pitch had been approved and that the front‑street visual height would be about 25 feet.

Board member Mary Frederickson moved to approve the variance; Miriam Hawbrick seconded. The board approved the request, 5‑0. Staff and board members discussed that the city intends to review height‑measurement rules in a forthcoming Land Development Code update to address recurring issues on steep lots.