PRESCOTT - Lake Montezuma resident Steve Sprinz thinks that letting property owners rent out their detached guest homes is a bad idea, and the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors on Monday agreed with him.
The board voted to deny county Land Use Manager Steve Mauk's application for a zoning amendment that would let homeowners rent out guesthouses in 30-day increments.
"I think we should keep it as it is," District 3 Supervisor Chip Davis said.
In addition to Sprinz, several members of the public voiced their opposition to the amendment during the board meeting at Cottonwood.
"I have two acres and this (amendment) violates what I bought my house for," Village of Oak Creek resident Joanne Johnson said. "Someone could build a guesthouse and turn it into a rental."
Other verbal and written opposition to the contentious amendment included concerns that property owners would build guesthouses and convert them to bed and breakfasts, leading to increased traffic and decreased property values, and that the amendment would turn neighborhoods zoned as single-family residential into multi-family residents.
"Call it what it is - it's no longer a guesthouse but a rental unit," a Cottonwood man said.
The board did not change the existing guesthouse ordinance, which means homeowners still may apply for use permits to rent out a guesthouse and allow guests to live in a guesthouse for an unlimited length of time as long as the homeowner does not charge guests.
In a separate matter, the board approved without discussion a change order that would reduce the future Prescott Lakes Parkway roundabout from four lanes to two lanes.
Karl Rockwell, general manager for Claycomb/Rockwell Associates, the engineering firm designing the roundabout, estimates that the design change would save the county $400,000.
The roundabout is the main entrance to the future county juvenile detention center and office buildings, called the Prescott Lakes Parkway government site. It also will connect to the future Sundog Ranch Connector Road.
Rockwell is drawing the new two-lane design, which the City of Prescott and county are partnering in, so that the two entities could convert it in the future to a four-lane road.
The Prescott Lakes Parkway site is in the design phase. The board does not expect to break ground until 2010.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a scenic/historic sign design for roads that the county designates a scenic/historic route under the county's new program. The county's logo is emblazoned over a blue background with "Scenic/Historic Route" printed in white block letters at the bottom of the sign.
Public Works Director Phil Bourdon said that it would cost between $40 and $50 if the county sign department makes the signs, and more than $200 if he out-sources the work. He added that blue is the standard color for signs that designate points of interest.
• Set an Oct. 19 hearing date to vote on a fee for taking dead bodies to either the morgue for autopsy or to a funeral home. The county currently pays $125 and $1.75 per mile for each trip.
Reader Comments
Posted: Saturday, September 26, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
The 'new order of socialism'? I believe the article clearly states 'should keep it as it is', so unless this became a federal law in the last 9 months, I think we may want to blame it on something besides our current U.S. President.
Posted: Thursday, September 24, 2009
Article comment by:
So what if....
So, if neighbor Joe rents his guest house out ... what's the criminal charge?
Posted: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Article comment by:
Land owner
America the land of the free and home of the brave! What happened to all our freedoms?? Ohhh the new order of socialism..
Posted: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Its a shame, telling people what they can do with their land and their property.
Posted: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Article comment by:
People amaze me!!!
I dont get it. What is the big deal? What business is it of anyone else's other than the Property OWNERS as to what they do with a detached house/space. In today's economy everyone could use a little help. So why is this guy or the County Board putting their noses in places that 1)has no business being in and 2)when their concerns should be on other more important matters. Some mothers children I swear!!!!!
It is the property owners business, I mean you can go anywhere and RENT a home/trailor/apartment, so what difference does it make if the owners live on the same property. Come on people get you acts together and mind your own business. Get a life!!!
