WV residents want to keep their space

By PAULA RHODEN
The Daily Courier

The Williamson Valley area is a place for horse enthusiasts. It also provides space for residents to spread out without bumping into their neighbors. And they want to keep it that way.

A survey that the Williamson Valley Corridor Plan Steering Committee conducted indicates that while residents are not in favor of growth, they know it is inevitable and warrants planning and control.

The steering committee formed in January to help the community develop a corridor plan that would be an amendment to the Yavapai County General Plan. The committee developed a 50-question survey to find out what Williamson Valley residents want. Since some of the questions had multiple parts, the number of responses was actually 74.

The committee mailed 4,124 surveys, one to each household. In an attempt to increase the number of responses, the committee included a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. The committee received 1,275 replies, a 30.8 percent return rate.

Williamson Valley residents attended a meeting June 2 in the main theater at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to find out the results of the survey.

Steering committee Chairman Walter Burcham presented the results of the corridor plan survey on behalf of the other committee members. He said the development of a corridor plan was on a fast track and moving ahead. While it normally takes two years to create a community plan, Burcham said the goal is to have this plan completed by September. He credits the expertise of the members of the committee for the fast pace of the project.

Yavapai County regulations require the inclusion of five elements in any community plan. To meet this requirement, the survey included questions about character, land use, open space, transportation and water.

"Yavapai County is specific on what a community/corridor plan should look like. So we are asking once again for your comments. The goal is to have a basis to develop a plan coordinating future growth," Burcham said.

He noted that the plan would not affect existing land use. There would be no regulatory or enforcement powers and would not implement any zone changes.

Ninety percent of the residents answering the survey said they want Williamson Valley to remain as is. They want a two-acre minimum lot size. The residents are not looking for multi-family residences. They indicated opposition to condominiums, apartments and manufactured home parks.

The survey results show that most of the residents are happy living in the county and do not want to incorporate or be annexed into Chino Valley or Prescott. The residents think that Williamson Valley should remain residential and they are not in favor of commercial development. It does not bother the residents to drive to neighboring communities for shopping and other services. The only commercial activities residents said they support are home-based and equestrian businesses.

Those attending the meeting did not agree with Burcham that a Planned Area Development (PAD) could be a way to preserve ridgelines and control building height. Instead, some residents suggested the community approach the county about creating a slope ordinance that would prevent construction on ridgelines.

The biggest controversy in Williamson Valley is the possibility of widening Williamson Valley Road. While residents agree to the need for additional pull-out lanes at major intersections, they do not want Williamson Valley Road upgraded to four lanes. However, they do agree there should be an additional paved east/west artery from Williamson Valley Road to Highway 89.

The residents voiced concerns about the four-lane bridge that narrows to two lanes on each side, as well as any county plans to widen Williamson Valley Road. The discussion brought out that county officials, while citing large numbers of daily vehicle use, also acknowledge lack of available money. One resident said he counted the number of cars using the road during the day and his numbers were nowhere near the county's traffic count.

Residents also noted that a four-lane road is a key element to changing the character of Williamson Valley.

Burcham said it might be appropriate to seek scenic designation for Williamson Valley Road.

A high percentage of residents recognized the need for open spaces. They also said littering is a problem as well as illegal dumping on federal and state land. The residents agree that hiking and biking trails should be expanded, while authorities should enforce off-road vehicle laws. There are no legal motorized trails within the plan boundaries.

The steering committee tried to coordinate the 2005 corridor plan survey with a survey that took place in 1995.

"The survey and the comments were not exactly the same, but the results were basically the same. Residents said 10 years ago a plan was needed, and today they are saying a plan is needed. The opinions today are as strong, or stronger, as they were 10 years ago," Burcham said.

He said the community has made its feelings known. It does not want commercial development, new golf courses or resorts. Burcham said that in addition to answering the survey questions, residents also sent written comments to the steering committee.

The next step, Burcham said, is for the steering committee to take all the comments received June 2 and the survey results, and develop a draft corridor plan. When that is completed, the committee will schedule a third community meeting. The draft plan would then go to the Board of Supervisors for review. Once the corridor plan is complete, it will be added as an amendment to the county general plan.

For more information on the Williamson Valley Corridor Plan, or to see the complete results of the plan survey, visit the plan Web site at http://www.williamsonvalleycorridorplan.com  Residents can also e-mail the members of the steering committee from that site. To contact Burcham, call 776-2052.

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