Board of Adjustment approves 35‑site RV park on Iron Springs Road with no‑tent and fencing conditions

The City of Prescott Board of Adjustment on Jan. 16 approved Conditional Use Permit CUP24‑006, clearing the way for a 35‑site recreational vehicle park on a 2.14‑acre parcel north of Iron Springs Road by a 5-0 vote.

Tammy DeWitt, community planner for the City of Prescott, told the board the application follows a May 28, 2024 City Council rezoning from Single Family‑18 to Business General. "The request before you today is a conditional use permit to allow for a 35 site RV park in a business general zoning district," DeWitt said, describing a site plan with one access from Iron Springs Road, one‑way circulation to allow backing into sites, and an on‑site office, restrooms, showers, laundry and outdoor recreation areas.

The planner said the applicant expects to hire one to two employees and have a host living on site. DeWitt also told the board the site is "heavily treed" with boulders and that a sewer easement runs along the property's right side, which limits the ability to install a continuous fence there. She said the city notified property owners within 500 feet and received one emailed letter of opposition.

The board’s approval included two conditions the planning staff recommended and that the applicant accepted: no tent camping on the site and fencing or other feasible property delineation along the north/northeast edge where possible. Mary Frederiksen moved to approve the permit with those conditions and Tony Teeter seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

Applicant representatives identified in the meeting as Leah and Kevin described plans to preserve many of the existing trees, to use gravel or decomposed granite rather than full concrete pads, and to retain natural site character where feasible. Leah said the project would include a covered gathering area the applicants referred to as a "bowery," fire‑pit amenities fed by the site's natural gas service, and rules intended to limit noise and nuisance behavior. The applicants said month‑to‑month occupancy would be typical for longer stays, and that the business model did not include tent camping.

Board members and staff questioned several operational details during the public hearing: hours of operation and egress, whether the school district uses the adjacent property to the north, fencing options where a sewer easement prevents a continuous barrier, and tax collection on short‑term versus longer stays. Mark Hopkins asked whether the school district had expressed concerns; DeWitt said the city had notified the district and had not received comments. The board discussed the pros and cons of limiting maximum stay length but did not attach a per‑occupant time limit to the permit.

During the hearing John Johnson, a nearby resident who identified his address as 1644 Sky Trail, raised concerns about potential noise, stormwater runoff and sewer capacity. He said he could see the site from his yard and asked the city to review runoff and sewer impacts during permitting. DeWitt responded that the applicant must submit grading and drainage plans and that the city requires engineering showing how runoff is managed; she also said there is sewer capacity and that public works requirements would be enforced during permitting.

The board’s discussion referenced an enacted change to state law affecting local transaction privilege taxes on residential rentals effective Dec. 31, 2024. DeWitt summarized the statutory language as limiting local sales or rental taxes on residential leases after that date and said shorter transient lodging stays remain taxable; the board did not apply a tax condition to the CUP itself and referred tax questions to city finance and to the applicant’s tax advisors.

The board approved the conditional use permit in general conformance with the site plan presented to the board and directed staff to work with the applicant on public‑works requirements related to fencing, drainage and utility hookups as part of the city’s building and permitting review.

Votes at a glance

• CUP24‑006 (Conditional Use Permit for 35‑site RV park, 2.14 acres off Iron Springs Road): Motion to approve with conditions (no tent camping; fencing/delineation along northern/northeast edge where feasible; general conformance with site plan). Mover: Mary Frederiksen. Second: Tony Teeter. Vote: Jim Lamerson — yes; Mary Frederiksen — yes; Thomas Davis — yes; Mark Hopkins — yes; Tony Teeter — yes. Outcome: approved, 5‑0.

• Approval of minutes from previous meetings: Motion to approve both sets of minutes as presented. Mover: Thomas Davis. Second: Tony Teeter. Vote: unanimous. Outcome: approved, 5‑0.

The board closed the public hearing portion of the agenda after the vote and proceeded to staff updates before adjourning.