PRESCOTT – The May 5 Prescott Plan Commission meeting began with a discussion regarding a compliance issue at the Great River Road Flex Space development. Specifically, Building 5 of the development was found to be missing required access panels on its rear side that were included in the original site plan. After the city informed them of the omission, the developers submitted a request to amend their site plan, asking that the back side of Building 5 be exempt from the panel requirement. City Administrator Matt Wolf reminded the commission members that the original site plan for Great River Road Flex Space was approved in 2021.

“The minutes indicate as well that increase in architectural material standards was something that the commission requested at least verbally, and that the developer said would be included,” said Wolf.

He also added that the site plans that the developer submitted included those elevations with the accent panels. Photographs from the developers were presented to show that the back wall in question is not visible from any public street.

“It’s not tucked up against the hill. You can see both corners from the road,” disagreed member Josh Gergen, showing other members a recent photo of the building.

“Yeah, you can see it,” agreed member Bailey Ruona.

Planning Commission members expressed concern about setting a precedent where developers can ignore approved plans after construction has begun.

Commission member Dave Hovel stated, “If you have a set of plans, you should follow your plans. You don’t bring in one set and then build off another set. Otherwise, why even have a plan?” He added, “They said they would do it. They should do it.”

“We just had a discussion about making them make good on their site plan,” Mayor Robert Daugherty remarked. “And we all voted, yeah, we should go through with that. I’m all good with making them make it look right.”

The commission unanimously voted to deny the request for an amendment to the site plan, emphasizing the importance of accountability in development standards.

Following the site plan discussion, the commission reviewed public input gathered from the city’s comprehensive plan survey. Going over the results, Wolf said a total of 179 residents responded—fewer than the desired 400—but the results still offered valuable insights into community priorities.

“Ideally, we wanted to see about 10% which would have been around 400, 450 people. Obviously, we fell short of that unfortunately,” said Wolf.

He said the key demographics of the survey respondents included 49% who have lived in Prescott for over 20 years, 43% who have children in the household, and 21% who are retired. Of the age breakdown, 42% are between 35–54, and 17% are over 65.

Speaking on natural resources and environmental concerns, Wolf said 83% of respondents agreed the city should increase efforts to protect natural resources.

Residents voiced concerns about nitrate and pesticide runoff, loss of natural vegetation, and the overdevelopment of agricultural land. And there was strong support for organic farming, community gardens, and protecting farmland from urban sprawl.

Tree management emerged as a key concern for many residents. Loss of mature trees—due to disease or development—was frequently mentioned in survey responses. Residents called for a structured tree replanting program, and trees to be planted in parks and neighborhoods, not just saplings but mature trees. Residents also called for more city involvement in forestry planning and better maintenance of existing trees. Commissioners discussed requiring developers to plant trees for every new home.

“It’s not that expensive for the developer to put a tree in every yard,” said Gergen.

Some commissioners proposed using an escrow account to manage this, ensuring trees are planted once home construction is completed. Others emphasized the importance of community involvement in watering and maintaining trees to prevent loss.

“We can afford replacement of trees in front of Freedom Park. The biggest issue is how do we make sure they’re maintained and watered, and they don’t die right away,” Wolf commented, mentioning the size of the public works staff.

“Our staff isn’t big enough to do a lot of this,” agreed Hovel.

Addressing the importance of planting a diverse mix of trees to protect against disease, Mayor Daugherty stated, “That’s something we could look into in the future.”

Ruona told the commission that the Coulee River Trails Group is working on tree management in Magee Park and has recently replanted 29 maple trees as part of their efforts.

The Comprehensive Plan survey also revealed deep concerns over the affordability and availability of housing, particularly for seniors as 61% of survey respondents say existing options are a weaknessl 47% see housing as insufficient for retirees and many find it challenging for young families and professionals to remain in the community due to high property taxes and housing costs. When asked what types of housing the city should prioritize, 66% supported more senior living facilities, 56% favored additional traditional single-family homes, and 39% wanted to see more small homes under 1,300 sq ft. There was limited support for large apartment buildings or high-density developments. One commissioner expressed concern that planning wasn't aligning with community desires.

Prescott residents expressed a desire for better-maintained neighborhoods, including tidier yards and homes and a desire for more sidewalks and trails for walkability, though concerns exist about the cost and maintenance burden placed on residents. Maintenance and neighborhood appeal were also top concerns. Some residents were frustrated by perceived inefficiencies in city services, especially snow removal from sidewalks and street maintenance. The commission acknowledged the fine line between regulation and overreach.

 “How much government do you want? Do you want government to tell you everything?  It’s always that fine line of too much government’s not always good neither,” Hovel commented. “It’s maybe just communication with your neighbor.

Top of FormJosh Miller, a senior planner with Cedar Corporation, presented the commission with the Comprehensive Plan update and the goals for the City of Prescott.

“It’s a 20-year plan we have that has to be updated every ten years,” he explained.

Along with Miller, the commission discussed and reviewed the draft of Chapter 3-Natural, Cultural, and Agricultural Resources of the Comprehensive Plan. Afterward they moved on to the first review of the draft for Chapter 4 – Housing. Miller shared that future meeting discussions would include economic development for Prescott and future land use.

The next meeting of the Prescott Plan Commission is set for 6 p.m. June 2.