Prescott Valley launches long-range planning push with ULI TAP and Logan Simpson

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. — The Town Council on March 6 invited the Urban Land Institute and Logan Simpson to help craft a long-range strategy to guide future development, economic recruitment and open-space protection in Prescott Valley.

The study session presentation described a coordinated effort called “Prescott Valley Forward” that will pair a ULI Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) review with more detailed work by Logan Simpson on a wildlife corridor, residential and nonresidential design guidelines, wayfinding standards and an update to the State Route 69 corridor plan. Donna Kennedy, Prescott Valley’s development services director, and John Jacobson, the town’s principal planner, told council members the work responds directly to the town’s strategic plan and a recent citizen survey that ranked managing growth, attracting medical services and identifying attainable workforce housing as top priorities.

Town staff said the multi-part effort is intended to create a shared roadmap for land use, infrastructure and economic development so zoning and recruitment are guided by a single, long-range vision rather than piecemeal decisions. “These are little long term projects that will have some certain conditions that we'll bring back to you after we get your feedback today,” Donna Kennedy said.

Kennedy and Jacobson outlined how the pieces fit. The Urban Land Institute (ULI) TAP will convene outside subject-matter experts to evaluate high-level opportunity areas, provide best-practice recommendations and produce an advisory document aimed at business attraction and placemaking. Deb Sindenham of ULI said the TAP process is pro bono, multidisciplinary and intended as a convening and advisory resource rather than a lobbying or implementation arm. Rena Reen, a ULI TAP volunteer with the Pinal Partnership, said the TAP will bring specialists based on the town's priorities and will solicit broad stakeholder and public input; a panel visit and walking tour are scheduled for May 9.

Logan Simpson representatives described four concurrent, staff-directed projects that will supply technical detail and implementation-ready materials: a scientifically based wildlife corridor study, residential and nonresidential design guidelines with graphic examples, wayfinding design and construction details for signage within town right-of-way, and an update to the 2002 Parkway/Route 69 plan. “The wildlife corridor plan will protect and enhance the natural waterways and critical open spaces within the town of Prescott Valley for current and future generations and support healthy ecosystems and wildlife,” said Sandra Hoffman of Logan Simpson.

Council members raised questions about regional coordination and local identity. Several members, including Councilwoman Kiel and Councilman Freund, emphasized design standards and a coherent downtown identity to support walkability, retail and evening activity. Councilman Freund urged attention to medical-industry supply chains and the kinds of specialty facilities and equipment that would be required if the town tries to recruit more medical providers.

Staff and consultants said the effort is iterative and intended to result in implementable tools. Kennedy told the council that Logan Simpson will return with technical findings in June and ULI will present final TAP recommendations this fall. John Jacobson emphasized the need for an implementation strategy: “If we don't have all the details, that's okay. But if we answer our own question and say, boy, we don't know how we implement this, this is something that's too hard to get our hands on — we need to talk about that.”

The presentations noted existing regional engagement: Prescott Valley staff said they are already coordinating with the Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization (CIMPO), Arizona Game and Fish and federal land managers on habitat and corridor issues. Logan Simpson said its team includes wildlife biologists, cultural resources staff and landscape designers to ensure recommendations are both ecology-informed and constructible.

Next steps listed to council were: develop stakeholder outreach and public listening sessions, convene the ULI TAP on May 9 with a walking tour, receive Logan Simpson’s technical findings in June, and expect a fall TAP deliverable with recommendations for land use, housing and business attraction that staff will translate into implementation options and code or capital projects.

Council members generally expressed support for the coordinated approach and asked staff to ensure the final recommendations include realistic implementation steps and funding pathways.

The study session then moved on to separate agenda items.