2/14/2005 7:00:00 AM Williamson Valley residents begin planning process
So Freireich attended a community meeting, which took place at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on Thursday, to participate in drafting a new community corridor plan. Freireich was pleased with the turnout. "I'm pleased that there are people out here asking intelligent questions," Freireich said. "I'd like to know citizens' concerns really register with their representatives." More than 60 residents spent about two hours listening, asking questions and giving their thoughts into the plan, which is a blueprint of sorts outlining future corridor growth. The first step for the steering committee is putting together a community survey. The survey, which will go out to approximately 2,400 households by the end of March, will have some questions that residents at the meeting submitted. The committee wants to deliver the final version of the plan to the county in June. Williamson Valley corridor leaders joined a handful of county staff urging residents to get involved and express their opinions. Committee Chairman Walter Burcham said the purpose of the meeting is to move forward and take control of community growth. "We know there's going to be growth," Burcham said. "I think we can all agree on that. Citizens of the area should have a say about the type of direction of growth that occurs in your area and that's what we're here to do, is collect that kind of information." Once the committee drafts a plan, it will go to the county's Planning and Zoning Commission and then the county Board of Supervisors for approvals. Corridor residents and county officials are confident the second time will be the charm. About 10 years ago, the Williamson Valley Concerned Citizens conducted a community survey in preparation for work on a plan that never took off. That effort stalled partially because of a new statewide law that required counties and municipalities to revise their general land-use plans. County officials focused on the county plan for years and placed work on community plans on the back burner so they could complete the overall county plan in 2003. Supervisor Carol Springer said she viewed the renewed effort as "the official recognition" of a coordinated community plan. Springer explained why the plan is important. "It becomes a tool to help us as a board of supervisors in making decisions in the future that may be able to take your thoughts, your ideas and your desires into consideration when we make those decisions," Springer said. Committee member Dick Clark cautioned against taking things for granted. "This is an opportunity where we can have a voice in what might happen," Clark said. Clark said that in 1995, the rate of return on the survey was about 33 percent. Clark said he would like to see a higher return rate. We're hoping to get more than that and we're doing everything that we can to make it as simple as possible for you to respond," he said. "What we're trying to do is to help you help yourself. And so we are asking you for your cooperation." County Planner Ryan Smith said a plan that residents draft is better than one county staff or paid consultants draft. "What we are finding is that when the people themselves write the plan they have a personal stake in it that a staff person or consultant just doesn't have," he said. "So that makes the community plan yours, you own it." Those who want to volunteer can e-mail the committee at Williamson.Valley@gmail.com or call committee members Dick Clark at 776-0589 or Mary Beth Hrin at 708-1697. Mail donations to the Williamson Valley Corridor Plan at P.O. Box 4293, Prescott Ariz. 86302-4293 Contact the reporter at jsoifer@prescottaz.com.
