2/3/2010 3:45:00 PM
Planning commission rejects Williamson Valley community plan
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Les Stukenberg/
The Daily Courier
Approximately 75 people attended as the Yavapai County Planning and Zoning committee members listen to a presentation for a Williamson Valley Community plan on Wednesday morning. |
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About 75 residents packed a meeting room where - after hours of discussion Wednesday - the Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously rejected a proposed community plan for Williamson Valley.
The plan, put forward by the Williamson Valley Community Organization after some 17 years of intermittent effort, called for the 102-square-mile area to keep its rural, residential and equestrian character. It also recommends an improved three-lane rather than a five-lane expansion of Williamson Valley Road.
The crowd seemed evenly divided between supporters and opponents of the plan.
Neil Cooperrider, vice president of the WVCO, told the commissioners that more than 60 volunteers spent several thousand hours developing the plan, which would become part of the county general plan if approved. Residents were surveyed three times, most recently in 2005.
Cooperrider, while conceding that the plan does not conform to the county's general plan in some aspects, said that the group would like to change county policy regarding Williamson Valley Road.
"A four- to seven-lane highway would bring strip development not compatible with the area," Cooperrider said. The amount of traffic that county engineers designed their plans for is no longer "realistic in the current economic climate," he said.
Ken Janecek said that revised estimates of population growth for the area show it would roughly double from 5,200 to 11,800 people by 2050 instead of the earlier, much higher estimates.
However, several plan opponents said they are in favor of the county's planned improvements to the road, which is the main route through Williamson Valley. Rancher Mike Pierce said he would "dearly love" the road to be improved. Those who are against the improvements are the same people who opposed a gas station at Outer Loop Road that now "saves me 100 gallons a month."
Phil Bourdon, county public works director, said the road is a regional corridor that has been part of the road improvement studies done in 1995, 1998 and 2006. When the economy improves, traffic will increase, he said. Work on the southern portion of the road has begun, with work on the northern part from Pioneer Parkway to Outer Loop Road slated to start in five years.
"The only way you're going to get a safe road is to put in a center barrier," said Robert Hilb.
Pierce, who owns a 5,000-acre ranch, argued that other parts of the plan would cost county taxpayers dearly, including recommendations for new roads to be built and for monitoring streams.
Craig Krumwiede, the president of Harvard Investments, the developer of the Talking Rock subdivision, also said his company opposes the plan and supports the county's road-widening project.
Commissioner Joan McClelland noted that a problem with the plan is that it includes part of the City of Prescott. Ken Mino, WVCO president, told her that the group would open itself up to the arguments that the survey was invalid since it included those residents.
Deputy County Attorney Jack Fields said that particular component opened the door for litigation.
"A challenger could hang their hat on that," Fields said. "It creates that potential legal problem."
Commission Chairman Tom Reilly acknowledged the vast amount of work done by the volunteers but also noted the controversy created by the plan.
"I think they need to press the reset button on this thing," Reilly said.
Afterward, Mino said the outcome was "disappointing but not unexpected."
Despite the negative response of the commissioners, the plan will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on March 1.
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Posted: Sunday, February 14, 2010
Article comment by:
Williamson ValleyGirl
We cannot support a community plan where not all of the property owners of the community have been polled. The WVCO purported at the Feb. 3rd meeting that they've conducted 3 seperate surveys in order to create their Plan based upon what the residents of Williamson Valley desire. In light of the fact that we've been residents here and homeowners since 1999 we have never received a survey and have never been polled. In addition we purchased property [vacant land] in Williamson prior to 2005 and have never received a mailing or survey pertaining to that address. Our voice needs to be considered in what we feel is best for the community. When the WVCO decides to stop it's one-sided antics and backdoor politics and polls all of the residents and landowners who would be effected by a Community Plan then quite possibly a Plan could be put together that would represent the best interest of the majority of the property owners and not just a select few. Until then, we're telling the Board of Supervisors to Vote No on the Plan.
Posted: Sunday, February 07, 2010
Article comment by:
Think again!
Well Sally, you will get all the commercial you ever wanted when the 5-lanes goes through. It will look just like Willow Creek Road. Guess that will thrill you to death........it's just that not everyone feels the way you do.
Posted: Saturday, February 06, 2010
Article comment by:
Sally
Hey Wait and See-
What part of THERE IS NOOOOO COMMERCIAL LAND IN THE 102 square miles, except the gas station, dont you understand? 2 acres out of 102 square miles. What scares me more than the county, which by the way, I think is doing and has done a terrific job, is (people) like you who just want to diddle away the taxpayer's resources.
Posted: Friday, February 05, 2010
Article comment by:
Wait and See
Sally, did you know that the County makes more money from commercial real estate than residential? Do you remember Willow Creek Road when it was just a 2-lane residential road with no commercial. Now it's 4-5 lanes and did you notice that the commercial has taken over. Why? Because no one wants to live along a large highway. Would you? The folks who are losing their yards are going to sell and move. They will request a zoning change and get it! Wait and see!
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Sally
The scare tactics and personal attacks are amazing. THERE IS NOOOO COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ON WILLIAMSON VALLEY ROAD!!!
102 square miles and only 2 acres of commercially zoned property. So tell me where is all this commercial development going to go? You anti road people are not civilized. Your personal attacks are outrageous. But sticks and stones etc When all else fails and you have failed for 17 years, resort to name calling and attacks. Get a new hobby!
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
WilliamsonValleyGirl
I'm glad the plan was denied by the commission. Looking forward to the March 1st meeting with the Board of Supervisors and hopefully a final no will be issued by them. This is not the time to try and put more gov't into place; the WVCO can't even put together a plan that addresses property within unincorporated areas and these are the people who are looking to create and regulate more gov't?! If they can't even figure out the appropriate areas which could be covered by a plan without blindly creating a potential lawsuit I certainly don't think they are qualified to create a town plan that would be agreeable to all residents of the area. I'm glad Planning and Zoning has taken notice and hope the Board of Supervisors realizes that the "plan" is not what the majority of the residents in Williamson Valley want or need. The road is not going to change the zoning; it will just allow for the current residents and future residents to be able to travel into/out of town with safety and ease and not live with traffic conjestion as we experience now at certain times of the day because there are only 2 lanes.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Bob Hilb
Whoever "Is Road Safety Really A Concern?" is, he or she is obviously not concerned with safety. There are a lot of good things in the Plan. Unfortunately the plan did not stick to facts or logic but tried to justify itself with speculation and exaggeration. Safety is one those areas that suffered that fate. They tried to call the center lane in a three lane highway a safety lane. It is a turn lane. It does not help with the safety problem that we all see every time we drive on Williamson Valley Road. Someone passes in a no passing zone, going 75-85 to get around the slower traffic. With a three lane highway there cannot be passing zones since that lane is for turning. The current situation gets worse, much worse as traffic volume increases. With 2 lanes in each direction and occasional turning lanes, the average speed may go up to 5-10 over the speed limit (which will still be 50mph) but there will be no more 75-85mph passing needed. You can pass that car going 45 by going the speed limit. So which is safer? By the way Fain Road is scheduled to be made into a 4 lane limited access highway before Williamson Valley Road is made into 4 lane parkway with a strategically placed turn lanes. In addition the state has recognized that medians are critical for safety and that they will be added 69 and 89. If Williamson Valley is not widened safely I hope you will feel at least a little remorse when the inevitable fatality occurs.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Dan G
Two factions attended this hearing, presided over by 9 people--three of whom who were appointed by Springer, whose goal it is to make Williamson Valley into Prescott Valley West
There were the people who came here, bought homes with the understanding that not much would change. These people wanted to preserve what is.
Then there was the Construction, Realtor, Rancher Turned Developer Cartel and their sycohants that included the Good Ol Boys who had ranches and and have cashed in, but support those who want to turn their land into cash, especially one Springer Campaign Contributor who now sits in the State Legislature.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Is Road Safety Really A Concern?
Robert Hilb's concerns about safety on Williamson Valley Road are very touching. People are dying 3 to 1 on Fain Road as compared to WVR on less mileage. Why don't the Supervisors spend our limited funds on that road first? "Follow the money." They don't care about safety - they care about the developers. Check with the Sheriff's office, Bob. Williamson Valley Road is actually one of the safer roads with less than one fatality a year and no head-on collisions. No center barriers will be needed until we get the 5-lanes. The Sheriff has said, when a road is widened, speed increases! You can really worry about safety then, Bob!
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
AFiefdomTheCountyCanRecognize
Remember: The Lord of the Valley can ask to represent five and noone in the halls of County government will challenge his request for 18 minutes of floor time when the all that is allowed the sole "citizen" is 3.5 minutes. So when the rulers of the fiefdom show up with the Sheriff of AllForNautingham and their twisted henchpeople representing health & wealth & Golf Courses it's time for the lamentations of the Tragic Chorus to begin. The selfish and mean-spirited are backed as always by the smirking voice of the Regis of Development who swaggers up to the podium drunk on the blood of land acquisition. Bets are on that if the superhighway goes through the back yards of those who don't want to be part of a smart growth community plan, they will be the first to sue and grieve and gnash their teeth.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Re.Dear SO HAPPY
Oh we will be real happy, good things come to those who wait. The 5 lanes will come don't worry, but you already know this. LOL. To the educationally challenged person who said something about "27 lanes dah" why are you worried, obviously you still ride a bicycle.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Dear SO HAPPY
You won't be SO HAPPY John when you have to wait for stopped traffic while the road graders, etc. do their work for years and years. The 5 lanes won't be FAST in YOUR LIFETIME! Meanwhile, the County will let the road go to pot for the next 5 years or more before they start the project. I don't think you're going to be SO HAPPY after all!
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Well, duh!
Mark, you need to listen better. The Community Plan has been in the works for years and has "nothing" to do with Incorporation. Duh!
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
No name provided
Did anyone ever really think that there would not be a five lanes? The Board of Supervisors quietly decided to make this happen years ago, you would have to be very naive to think otherwise. Many of us have lived long enough to realize that money is at the bottom of most everything. And public hearings just patronize the concerned.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Easy Writer
Look who opposed the plan and favors 27 lanes with massive sound baffles...developers and would-be developers...Dah
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
Greedheads win round one
This commission; appointed by the County Supervisors, have no say so in the adoption of this plan. The Supes are the only ones who matter. That said, I'm pretty sure the commission takes its marching orders from the supes. This Community Plan is an informal process requesting the Supervisors to take stock of how a community sees itself, presently and out into the future. It is natural the county would not want to see this prime commercial corridor go to waste. All that tax money to be taken in and squandered like all the rest the state, city and county take in and squander. These folks out there who want to preserve their way of life are just going to have to do it the old fashioned way. Elect supervisors who share your concerns and litigate every trip of the train. Each property owner needs to file a separate suit. Make the county spend spend spend to defend each property owner's suit. Wear them down until taxpayers are tired of the money spent in litigation. Then the county will cast its greedy eyes to some other hapless community and the party starts over again. The developers and greed heads one this round. Wipe your brow and come out fighting in round 2.
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
John
I am SO HAPPY that they rejected the plan from WVCO. I will be SO HAPPY to see the 5 lane road. My drive to CRII and to work will be MUCH SAFER and MUCH FASTER. Thank you! 5 Lanes, here we come!
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010
Article comment by:
A Local
I have been in the area for 8 years. A short time back was my first and last trip on Williamson Valley Road. God what an over loaded Road. It was just 2 pm, on a week day. What a mess at 5 pm, and 8 am must be? The whole area needs to wake up and join the 21st Century and leave the 19th way behind.
Posted: Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Article comment by:
Mark
Five lanes needs to review the present plan which stops at the outer loop. It's been on the web for a long time. The State has also established that a corridor will be from the outer loop to either Seligman or west of that. That was decided years ago. Do some research before speaking.
Posted: Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Article comment by:
5 lanes is bad news
Good news must not have driven out lately! American Ranch, Williamson Valley Ranch, Whispering Canyon, Inscription Canyon, Talking Rock and Las Vegas Ranch have all slowed to near nothing. Valley View and Yavapai Ranch were supposed to happen, I wonder why there's nothing there. Is it really an appropriate time to put in 5 lanes to service Hootennany Holler?
Posted: Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Article comment by:
Gracie
Parker Anderson: You apparently haven't noticed, but that started decades ago.
Posted: Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Article comment by:
5 lanes now
News to Parker, the growth started along time ago,just like eveyrwhere else in Arizona.Like it or not W.V. road is and will become a even bigger travel link.I remember when Willow Creek Road was once a dirt road and Lonesome Valley was home only to the antelope.The newbies want to blame the BOS and the area ranchers when thay are the cause and effect.Get over it, you can't stop growth.
Posted: Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Article comment by:
No name provided
HAHA!!
Posted: Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Article comment by:
Mark
I've lived out here for 18 years and completely agree with the decision. The incorporation plan was for all the wrong reasons. A small minority that wanted to achieve their own agenda.
Posted: Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Article comment by:
Good news
Now we get on with the roadwork, 5 lanes is needed. All those WV moved out there and now they want to close the door, well the area is going to be developed, its called progress and you are part of it.
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