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Prescott subcommittee debates density categories, HB2447 and parking flexibility
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Summary
Committee members debated keeping a 'very low' density category for sensitive areas, including airport buffers; staff explained statutory minimums (1 DU/acre) and the group discussed HB2447's effect on local review and whether to soften language on parking and height flexibility.
The Prescott General Plan Review Subcommittee spent part of its March 11 session on land-use language, debating density categories, the implications of recent state law and whether development flexibility (setbacks, parking and height) should be softened in the draft.
Chelsea Walton, the city’s community development director, summarized statutory constraints and committee history: “There is a requirement that we have to allow at least 1 dwelling unit per acre,” she said, explaining the legal minimum and the committee’s earlier deliberations about combining categories vs. keeping a 'very low' designation for special areas such as airport buffers.
The mayor and other members pressed to insert a verbatim reference to the recent state statute (HB2447) and to note its effect on local oversight. The mayor told the group the statute has limited public input and council review in certain planning decisions and urged the plan to record that reality; another member cautioned that framing the statute in the plan risked being read as editorial commentary.
On parking and flexibility, the mayor opposed broad language that would 'support' blanket flexibility for setbacks, parking reductions or height increases and recommended modifying the goal to 'consider' flexibility only in exchange for offsets. The committee discussed protecting neighborhood character and preventing reduced parking from creating spillover street parking and congestion.
Next steps: staff will provide the exact statutory language for HB2447 and prepare revised wording options for density categories and parking flexibility for the next meeting.
