Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildlife Connectivity topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Prescott Valley presents draft wildlife connectivity guide; public comment open through May 3
Summary
Town staff and Logan Simpson consultants previewed a draft wildlife connectivity implementation plan focused on grasslands, waterways and mountain habitats with three project pathways (land-use/code changes; land conservation; targeted designations and crossings) and recommended funding analysis options including Trust for Public Land support and grants.
John Jacobson, principal planner in Development Services, and consultants from Logan Simpson presented Prescott Valley’s draft Wildlife Connectivity Guide at a special study session, calling the plan an implementation-focused follow-up to a phase-one foundation guide. "We're looking to establish wildlife connectivity to accomplish a symbiotic relationship between the natural environment and development," Jacobson said.
Consultants Christina Gatcher Webb and Mary Geisinger described phase-one public engagement (nearly 600 participants across listening sessions, focus groups and events) and said phase two (the implementation plan) translates those findings into tools and pathways. The guide focuses on three primary habitat types for Prescott Valley — grasslands, waterways and mountain forest — and presents three project pathways: zoning and land-use standards (including a general-plan amendment, buffers, density bonuses and potential transfer-of-development-rights programs), conservation approaches (conservation easements or direct acquisition) and designation/design improvements (wildlife crossings and additional research leading to transportation planning and possible overpasses or underpasses).
Consultants emphasized alignment with the town’s strategic plan and recommended sequencing: update the environmental chapter of the general plan, pursue code updates where appropriate, integrate mapping and technical research, and work with partners (land trusts, regional agencies, the MPO) on conservation and funding. They highlighted funding options including grant-seeking, a conservation fiscal-analysis study (Trust for Public Land assistance and ballot feasibility testing were discussed), and potential staffing needs (grant writer or shared program manager responsibilities across departments).
Public outreach remains open: the draft was placed online for comment through May 3 and a public meeting on April 15 drew roughly 40 attendees; consultants said they will integrate public and technical comments into a final plan aimed for council adoption in June.
Jacobson and the consultants framed the plan as a long-term, phased effort with near-term "lower-hanging fruit" (code updates and targeted tools) and longer-term options (land acquisition, crossings) that depend on funding, mapping and coordinated regional partnerships.
