The Prescott Valley Planning and Zoning Commission voted Jan. 13 to recommend a general plan amendment and a zoning map change that would allow a duplex to be built on a 0.24-acre lot at North Wagon Way and Spouse Drive, and attached a five-year expiration condition to the rezoning.

Chairperson Sandy Griffiths opened the public hearing for GPA 24-003 and ZMC 24-004. Town planner Chris Norlock told the commission the property’s size was misreported in a newspaper article as 24 acres; it is 0.24 acres. Norlock said the parcel is just east of Robert Road, north of Spouse Drive, and currently has a general-plan designation of “low density.” To allow a duplex he said the property would be rezoned and requires a change in designation to permit the proposed use.

The commission received public comment from two nearby residents. Lisa Bergman, who said she has lived on North Constance Drive since 1983, expressed opposition to converting single-family lots to duplexes and asked for the issue to be put to a public vote, saying the change could depress property values. Dawn Shepherd, who said she was attending to inform an elderly relative who owns a home on Wagon Way, asked staff to explain the proposal and was told the rezoning would apply only to the single lot under consideration.

Commission discussion focused on neighborhood transition and precedent. Vice Chairperson Evans, who moved approval of the general plan amendment, and Commissioner Bordone, who seconded the motion, said the parcel lies at an edge of a neighborhood that has already begun transitioning to other uses. Commissioner Herb voted against the general plan amendment, saying he was concerned about where the commission should draw the line on rezoning residential lots. "What's to prevent the next lot within a residential area such as this from being rezoned because somebody wants to tear down an older home and build a duplex?" Herb asked.

Commissioner Laney proposed a condition that the rezoning be effective for five years from the date of final approval by Town Council and that, if construction has not started by that date, the zoning would revert to R1L10. Town Attorney Stephen suggested specifying the Council as the body whose approval starts the five-year clock; the commission adopted the language as a condition. The commission voted to recommend the general plan amendment (4–1) and to adopt the zoning map change with the stipulated five-year condition (unanimous among members present). Both items will be forwarded to Town Council for final action.

The commission also approved minutes from its Nov. 4, 2024 meeting earlier in the session. With no further public comment, the meeting was adjourned.