PRESCOTT – The Prescott Plan Commission voted Oct. 6 to recommend six items to the Prescott City Council for the proposed Pine Meadows senior housing development.

• A site plan for the new multi-family development consisting of two 12-unit buildings on 1.36 acres adjacent to the current Prescott Housing Authority property on Pine Street, with addresses of 1600 Pine St. and 1541 James St., targeting those 55 and older in need of affordable housing.
• A Planned Unit Development overlay within the R-4 High Density Residential Zoning (allowing for shorter setbacks to accommodate two buildings on the lot).
• Purchase and sale agreement between the city, PM-Prescott LLC and the Prescott Housing Authority.
• A development agreement between the city, PM-Prescott LLC and the Prescott Housing Authority.
• A certified survey map creating two lots and two outlots on the land, along with an undedicated portion of James Street.
• A certified survey map creating a third lot for the development formally known as Pine Meadows and dedicating James Street to the public.

“What we’ve heard from many in the community is that they’re looking for a 55-plus senior living facility,” said City Administrator Matt Wolf.

Currently, the PHA owns most of the property in question, though the city owns a small portion, Wolf said. The PHA was established in the late 1970s to provide housing to seniors and disabled persons. The two existing facilities include St. Croix Manor (1028 Borner St.) and Watertower Apartments (1531 James St.) A 2021 assessment showed that $3.02 million in repairs are needed at those facilities. The PHA is selling 1 acre to help fund those improvements. They are also pursuing further aid from the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development MPR program.

The developer, Capital Investment Partners, is planning to provide 37 parking stalls, which is more than the minimum required (one stall per bedroom would equal 32). The façade would meet code with varied wall planes, vinyl windows, composite siding and cultured stone, similar to other properties in the area.

“Looking at utilities, so one of the unique things and I’m not sure exactly why it was developed this way, but we don’t have water running all the way down Pine Street,” Wolf said. “It ends at James Street, so one of the things we looked at was working with the developer to make sure this water is looped all the way through the parking lot and comes out at Pine Street.”

This would create a future water-system loop if further development occurs in the area. Wolf confirmed the sewer lines do currently run the entirety of Pine Street.

Wolf offered commissioners a brief history of the land, which is owned by both the city and PHA. The city originally purchased the land in 1978 and dedicated it to the PHA in 1979. A piece was then sold to the Prescott Nursing Home in 1984, but at that time, the right-of-way for James Street was never dedicated. Since the city set aside the land in question for public housing purposes, state law requires the Prescott Plan Commission to review any proposals. An appraisal by Bowery valued the land at $240,000, all of which will go to the PHA to support building repairs and rehabilitation.

The city has an Affordable Housing Fund with a balance of $349,041, Wolf said. In the developer’s agreement, the city agrees to contribute $81,000 from the Affordable Housing Fund, $240,000 equal to the land’s purchase value from the Affordable Housing Fund, and the $25,595 reimbursement for the Pine Street watermain extension out of the Water Fund. The developer agrees to maintain affordability and 55-plus targeting for 15 years, submit an annual rent registry to the city, pay standard impact fees totaling $88,136 and maintain stormwater ponds on both parcels.

CEO Trevor Bohland of Capital Investments Partners said his group manages about 1,250 units and has built 642 units, with a total portfolio value of $200 million. They’re headquartered in Altoona with a satellite office in River Falls. They have provided an estimated $117.3 million additional tax base in Wisconsin.

Recent projects include Peregrine Terrace near River Falls High School (192 units including one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments), Mill City Flats in New Richmond (88 units with a playground and dog park), and The Current near Tattersall in River Falls (105 units including one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments).

“Why Prescott?” Bohland asked. “Your anticipated population growth (10% in next five years), your proximity to the Twin Cities marketplace, of course quality schools that you currently have here and the state rankings make it very attractable.”

Stats show that 71% of Prescott residents own their own homes, while 29% are renters, Bohland said. A 2022 City of Prescott Housing Analysis showed the need for multi-family housing with most building permits issued over the last few years being for single-family and twin homes.

Foley Prescott LLC

The plan commission voted to recommend a site plan review for Foley Prescott LLC and a development agreement to the city council for approval. A 36,374 square-foot addition is proposed for the east side of the current 67, 218-square-foot facility owned by Foley Prescott LLC, according to City Planner Luke Wiese. Located at 1750 Ryden Road in the Prescott Business Park, Foley manufactures precision grinding and turf maintenance solutions. The existing building was constructed in 2020 in the I-3 mixed industrial-commercial district.

The new addition will house manufacturing, office and warehouse space, said Wiese. A total of 62 parking spots would be provided, which surpasses the 54 required by city code (1.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet). The addition would use existing utility services with no new connections needed.

“Foley has identified about $4 million of investment into the community for this new addition, and so they are asking for a development incentive,” Wiese said. “The addition will create about 22 jobs in the $60,000 or above category range plus benefits.”

Comprehensive Plan review

Wolf reviewed the Community Facilities portion of the Comprehensive Plan and detailed community survey results from Spring 2025 showing that 67.04% of respondents want the city to improve connections to parks with trails or greenways.

While 69.27% of respondents were satisfied with the number and quality of parks in town, 30.17% said maintenance and improvements are needed regarding safety, equipment and greenery; more trails are needed, and a dog park is wanted.

About 22% of respondents said the city doesn’t provide enough passive recreation facilities, recommending the addition of more trails for walking and hiking, more trail connectivity, additional green space in newer developments and perhaps more sport courts, a pool or dog park.

As for active recreation, 41.34% of respondents said the city doesn’t provide enough options. These people would like to see a YMCA-type facility with an indoor pool, skate park upgrades, movie theater and more options for all age groups; more hiking, biking and walking trails in natural areas and on paved, urban paths; more playgrounds and parks near residential areas not tied to the school district or limited by age group.

The survey, compiled in March/April, asked respondents about a new combined government facility based on a space needs assessment and the fact that “we are as a growing city running out of space in a number of our departments or they’re extremely aging,” Wolf said.

For the public safety facilities, respondents showed strong support for updating or expanding police, fire and EMS facilities due to outdated infrastructure and operational needs. As for library expansion, some valued it as a space with potential for more programs and events, while others argued that digital media has reduced expansion needs.

Many survey respondents opposed new civic buildings or major expansions due to cost concerns, emphasizing renovation over new construction. About 42% said they’d say no to a new combined facility, 30.17% said yes, and 26.82% were unsure.

Other business

The commission recommended the approval of a certified survey map for 1240 and 1250 Pearl St. N., transferring the east 30 feet of Lot 4 to Lot 5 and making that 30 feet C2 highway commercial zoning. The property is owned by Jason Wagaman, who wants to differentiate between his home and a nearby commercial business lot.