PV mayor now allowed to open emergency gates in case of evacuation orders
Council continues to study potential evacuation routes

A draft Emergency Evacuation Plan map indicates where town officials have identified current access points and potential routes by area and number. No key is available for exact locations. (Town of Prescott Valley/Courtesy)

A draft Emergency Evacuation Plan map indicates where town officials have identified current access points and potential routes by area and number. No key is available for exact locations. (Town of Prescott Valley/Courtesy)

The Prescott Valley Town Council gave the mayor an expanded power at its Feb. 14 regular council meeting. The mayor now is authorized to order the opening of gates or breach fencing on private property for public evacuation during an emergency.

Town Planner Gary Davis indicated four points on a map currently available as evacuation routes: Park View Drive connecting Viewpoint and Antelope Meadows subdivisions north of Highway 89A, Old Black Canyon Highway south of Highway 69, and a paved access route crossing a riverbed in the Quailwood subdivision.

The map also pinpoints potential routes the town currently is looking at: 11 more north of Highway 89A, 11 in the town proper, and 12 more south of Highway 69 extending to Prescott Country Club and Quailwood.

Council member Mary Mallory reminded the audience that residents are responsible for themselves, and encouraged people to get to know their neighbors, and plan to help each other.

PV Police Chief Bryan Jarrell, Fire Chief Scott Freitag with Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority, and Emergency Manager Ron Sauntman with Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management, all support the ordinance.

Chief Jarrell wrote in a Jan. 31 letter to the council that he advocates for any measure that better serves residents.

“I was involved with the Goodwin wildland fire in 2017, as well as the Viewpoint fire in 2018. These incidents made me aware of the importance of having viable, trustworthy methods of emergency egress of neighborhood residents during a crisis event,” Jarrell stated.

Fire Chief Freitag acknowledged that while the new mayoral authority doesn’t solve all evacuation issues, “it does offer access to alternative routes not currently available for emergency evacuation.”

“It is our opinion that more east/west access routes need to be opened between the north/south routes in and out of Viewpoint, Antelope Meadows and the Coyote Springs area,” Freitag wrote in his Feb. 12 letter, adding that to do so is challenging with both the town and county needing to work together across geographic boundaries.

The approval was unanimous.

In other business, council approved:

-A major modification for Crown Pointe Lofts complex of 96 units in five apartment clusters with changes in access and parking configuration.

-A final development plan for Ocean Blue Car Wash located west of Glassford Hill Road and north of the Maverik station. Vehicle access will be on private roadways, not via Glassford Hill Road.

-Approved an amended Final Development Plan for Windsong Senior Living Facility to accommodate 14 more units/13 more beds, and relocating secondary access from the south end to the north end of the property.


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