At the Feb. 5 Prescott Plan Commission meeting, City Planner Carter Hayes discussed the update on the proposed Riverfront Mixed Use Development at 214 Front St. and Orange Street.

This project would exceed the maximum height requirement and surpass the limit of 50% of dwelling units per floor space in the commercial district thereby requiring a PUD. Currently Front Street is a one-way street that wouldn’t have enough space for emergency vehicles to turn around and the front of the building is a potential collapse zone which creates the lack of a fire lane and other space needed for emergency vehicles in case of an emergency. It is also a single access road from Orange Street to Front Street which presents a high likelihood of vehicle congestion which could also impede emergency vehicles.

Hayes presented the question to the Commission asking, “Does the Plan Commission favor the removal of 13 parking spaces on Orange Street to be replaced elsewhere in the downtown at the cost of the developer?”

Mayor Robert Daughtery asked, “So they’re removing those 13 spots because they’re considering that a fire lane?”

Hayes said dedicating a fire lane would be the only option and one that the fire department said they would be the most comfortable with.

“’This area on Orange Street obviously has a higher utilization rate than on Dakota Street,” Hayes said.

He mentioned that would need to be weighed, but it would have an impact on the downtown without having immediate access.

Commissioner Mike Hunter stated that loss of these parking spaces would be an “inconvenience” and asked if the developer would pay for the cost of the construction of the new parking spaces.

“I feel that this would be a pretty massive burden for the parking situation,” Commissioner Most stated, citing the probability of increased traffic from the new businesses.

“I guess I would like to see a rendering of where this new parking lot would be before I made a decision,” Most said.

Mentioning the inconvenience to the Prescott community, Most stated, “I would almost think that we would need to sweeten the deal a little bit to make that worth doing.”

He asked if the developer would be interested in doing that for the community.

The Plan Commission decided to table the issue until the next meeting and wait for more concrete information.

Dollar Tree

Hayes informed the Plan Commission of some displeasure by the public regarding the Dollar Tree development whose site plan was approved in 2023. The city has been researching the feasibility of a restriction on dollar store development in the future; Hayes asked the commission if it wished to address a new ordinance regarding small box retail restrictions.

“So, is this just specifically dollar stores?” Daughtery asked.

Hayes said the ordinance would need to be more specific to refer only to dollar stores.

“You can get specific with it,” Hayes said. “You just have to change the words a little bit.”

Daughtery asked if that would deter businesses from coming to Prescott.

“Do we want to go down that avenue?” he questioned.

Peterson agreed with Daughtery.

“We don’t want to discourage other businesses from coming to town because they can’t put it in this radius of the existing dollar store,” he said.

Peterson admitted he had some concerns when the initial project was approved but added, “I don’t really like to limit free market enterprise and new business either, so I’m not sure where I stand on it.”

City Administrator Matt Wolf said, “The biggest issue that we heard back is why does the City of Prescott need multiple stores?”

The Plan Commission agreed to create a small box retail restriction draft under zoning code Chapter 635.

As the potential ordinance discussion was brought before the Prescott City Council at their bimonthly meeting on Feb. 12, Alderperson Maureen Otwell asked, “Is it legal to put into your ordinance that you don’t want any more dollar stores in town?”

Wolf answered, “Again, just to be specific, we aren’t calling out any sort of store specifically. Dollar General is a brand name so that’s an actual store called Dollar General.”

“But they’re the only ones who fit into a small box store, right?” Otwell added.

Wolf shared that presently they are working with the city attorney to come up with language for the ordinance.

As council members discussed other types of businesses they would like to limit in the city, Daughtery admonished the council.

“You want to be very careful and tread lightly before you start calling things out that you don’t want,” he said.

“I have a problem with that if we start to get specific about what kinds of businesses. I mean, I think we can advocate for the type of businesses but to create laws specifically to outlaw certain types of businesses, I have a problem with that,” Otwell spoke up.

Knox added, “And we are always trying to come up with ways to generate revenue to offset expenses.”