Prescott 2050

Ambiance Interim Report

Prescott 2050 Visioning

Ambiance Sub-Committee
Preliminary Recommendations
September 25, 2008

Sub-Committee Members
Jim Sheridan, Chair
Deborah Thurston, Vice Chair
Dawn Marie Hueur, Recorder
Hoyt Johnson
Vivian Lucchesi
John O’Neil Lutes
Mary Schulte
Jeri Smith-Fornara
R.E. Wall
Jack Wilson

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 3
A. Approach Overview 3
B.  Mission Statement 3
C. Ambiance Sub-Committee Goals 4
D.  Our Sub-Committee Scope Limitations 4
E. Key Recommendations 4

Recommendations & Implementation Steps 5
Architectural Design Standards 5
Entrance Signage Design Standards _______________________________________________ 7
Landscaping Design Standards ___________________________________________________ 9
Survey Segments of the Prescott Population ________________________________________ 11

Executive Summary
A. Approach Overview
Prescott Mayor, Jack Wilson initiated the creation of a 2050 Visionary Advisory committee comprised of local participants to determine what Prescott should look like in the future. This 2050 Visioning Committee created multiple subcommittees which would meet and prepare recommendations. The Ambiance Subcommittee is providing this document of our recommendations to the overall Visioning Committee.
The Mayor’s Prescott 2050 vision is about preserving, maintaining, and enhancing the many attributes of our “Everybody’s Hometown” brand because it is our “reputation capital,” while we grow into the future.
In line with these thoughts, the Ambiance Sub-Committee has taken the following approach to develop our recommendations:
• Develop a Mission Statement.

• Brainstorm Ambiance issues.

• Prioritize these issues.

• Research solutions.

• Prepare recommendations and develop preliminary Implementation Plan.

B.  Mission Statement
Our mission is to preserve and enhance Prescott’s Ambiance as Prescott grows toward its build out population.

Definition of Prescott’s Ambiance
Prescott’s Ambiance is characterized by the positive first impression people have when they experience our friendly, small town atmosphere, the sense of our place in Arizona history, and our unique high desert environment that is nestled in the pine-forested mountains. People who come to live in Prescott enter a welcoming community where they can live, work, and make their own vital contributions to our thriving culture.

In addition, Prescott makes you feel that you are as welcome as an old friend.  Visitors often comment on our slow pace and the friendliness of our residents. That friendliness reflects our motto of “Everyone’s Hometown” and is not contrived.

Arts and heritage define the heart and soul of Prescott and are centered on the historic downtown plaza--which recalls images of the small towns across the East and the Midwest that have central courthouses. Our preserved historic buildings, augmented by varied works of public art, are also part of the appeal.  Prescott would not be “Prescott” without preservation of our natural environment including our special setting, hills, and mountain vistas.

Our guiding principals are these: 

• At a minimum we will maintain Prescott Ambiance, but our ultimate goal is to enhance that Ambiance
C. Ambiance Sub-Committee Goals
• Maintain and enhance Prescott’s Ambiance as it grows.

• Develop signage standards for all of Prescott entranceways, including all road entrances and the airport.

• Investigate the development of Architectural Design Standards to augment currently existing Historic District Design Standards. 

o Architectural Design standards should be developed for areas of the city, not city-wide.  As an example, commercial structures on major roads with Prescott.
o Review existing Historic District Design Standards to see if additional criteria should be added, such as color palettes.
o Review other municipalities (such as Sedona’s) prohibition on rubber-stamp franchise architectural designs.
D.  Our Sub-Committee Scope Limitations
We recognize that the Ambiance Sub-Committee’s recommendations are not independent and need to be coordinated with other sub-committee recommendations, as well as other city and regional activities.

E. Key Recommendations
After discussing many areas Ambiance issues, we identified three priority areas of focus:

• Develop Prescott Entrance Standards.
• Develop Architectural Design Standards.
• Develop Landscaping Design Standards
• Survey of Segments of the Prescott Population

Recommendations & Implementation Steps
Architectural Design Standards
Description: Develop Architectural design standards for the City of Prescott that will provide strong design review guidelines that are specific to the historic character and resources of each neighborhood/section.

The aim of these standards is to identify a Prescott “brand” that visually represents and preserves what is unique about our city.  These standards will protect local heritage, preserve existing character, control alterations, and regulate new development/growth so that it will be compatible with existing structures/styles. The standards must allow for innovation and creativity, recognize the context of time and technology, and address the need for energy sustainability.

• Citywide design guidelines are extremely difficult and costly to develop.  Many community meetings and presentations are required to determine what the community wants to be and how the built environment should look and function.

• The first step should be an inventory of the built environment to date.  This may result in different guidelines for different parts of the City.  The General Plan is a good resource for this initial assessment.

• Examine local residential developments that also have good design review guidelines with good graphics and explanations of the process the homeowner has to follow.  High Valley Ranch, The American Ranch and Talking Rock are examples that can be looked at.

• We recommend that the City develop an RFP in order to solicit proposals from design and planning firms.  There are many examples of these efforts around the Country. (Google alone has 380 listing for Design Review Guidelines for cities).

Implementation Steps:

Key Long Range Implementation Phases:

• Phase I (2009) –
• Phase II (2010 – 2011) –

• Phase III (2011-2015)
• Phase IV (2016 – 2020)

• Phase V (2021 – 2025) –

• Phase VI (2025 + timeframe) –
Time Line Prescott Population
Projection Recommendations To Be Accomplished Tied In With Other Committees (Y/N) List Financial Funding From COP (Y/N) Private / Public Funding (Y/N) (Approx Amt) Tied In With Other Towns / Cities

2009
45,813 As built inventory
2010
47,169 RFP for firms to develop Architectural Guidelines
2015
53,484
2020
60,645
2025
68,754
2030
77,959
2035
88,397
2040
100,231
2045
113,645
2050
128,815

Entrance Signage Design Standards
Description: Develop design standards for entrance signage on roadways (multiple) and at Love Field supported with a plan for funding and installing this entrance signage.  The aim is to develop signage that represents a Prescott “brand” and that visually represents what is unique about our city. As specified, this recommendation is for Entrance Signage; however, an expanded recommendation could encompass overall “Prescott” signage to include Entrance, Trails, Open Space and Creeks and downtown area directional signs.
We have 6 major entrances to Prescott; 89 South, 89 North, 69 West, 89A West, the airport entrance and East Iron Springs Road.

o Research legal standards and restrictions for highway signage.
 Distinctive “Welcome to Prescott” signs at the 6 entrances will not only welcome visitors but hint at our western heritage.
 An arch or entry gateway at the Gurley-Sheldon intersection needs to be constructed showing the way to “Historic Downtown Prescott”. 
 These projects can be done without expense to the city by having a city wide design competition.  The design requirements should include use of natural materials such as river rock, flagstone and iron.
 Requests for donations then would be sought from the public, contracting companies and fraternal organizations that currently have signs posted at city entrances.
 Signage would be thematic to Prescott’s heritage and become our “BRAND”, this can only enhance our place in Arizona history.

Implementation Steps:

Key Long Range Implementation Phases:

• Phase I (2009) –
• Phase II (2010 – 2011) –

• Phase III (2011-2015)
• Phase IV (2016 – 2020)

• Phase V (2021 – 2025) –

Date Population Projections Tasks Tied in with other committees? Financial Funding from COP? Private /Public Funding? Outside Groups Other plans
2007 43,217
2009 45,813 Public competition for design of entrance design standard. Yes - Development Yes - Via ADOT grant. PAAHC, Chamber of Commerce, PACT Yes - Airport Master Plan
2010 47,169 Codify entrance design standards for the CoP Yes - Development Yes Yes - Probably in kind design
2015 53,484 Entrance signage at Love Field with new airport terminal Yes - Airport Yes - Via FAA grant for new airport terminal Yes - Airport Users Association Yes - Airport Master Plan
2020 60,645 Resign all existing Prescott highway entrances No Yes - Via ADOT grant(s). No No No
2025 68,754 Sign new Prescott entrances per standards Maybe - Development Yes - probably as part of Development Agreement Yes - probably as part of Development Agreement Major landowners and developers General Plan: Annexation areas
2030 77,959
2035 88,397
2040 100,231
2045 113,645
2050 128,815

Landscaping Design Standards

After location, location, location curb appeal is of prime importance to the desirability of a home, business and especially a city.  Unkempt landscape or inappropriate types of planting does little to enhance a positive feel to visitors or residents.

 Existing ordinances requiring personal and business owners to maintain their landscape premises must be enforced.
 The City of Prescott needs to set examples to the public of low water indigenous xeriscapes all over the city.  A beautiful example is the landscape in front of the Granite Street Garage. 
 A suggested start would be the City Hall corner of Cortez and Goodwin; the evergreen bushes are so overgrown it’s hard to see the building and the shaping looks like a bald head.
 Follow suit with re-landscaping the planter boxes at major intersections in the city to show the public how beautiful indigenous plantings can be.
 The above projects can be done without expense to the City by asking local garden clubs, service clubs and landscaping companies to come up with designs; then asking the public, nurseries, garden clubs, service clubs, high school service clubs and landscape contractors to donate time and plants for the projects.  Alta Vista Garden Club was very responsive to this idea.  A wonderful example of public cooperation is the beautiful front landscaping at Antelope Hills Golf Course.

Implementation Steps:

Key Long Range Implementation Phases:

• Phase I (2009) –
• Phase II (2010 – 2011) –

• Phase III (2011-2015)
• Phase IV (2016 – 2020)

• Phase V (2021 – 2025) –

Date Population Projections Tasks Tied in with other committees? Financial Funding from COP? Private /Public Funding? Outside Groups Other plans
2007 43,217
2009 45,813 Develop Landscape Design standards Yes – Smart Growth Yes - Via ADOT grant. PAAHC, Chamber of Commerce, PACT, Major landowners and developers
2010 47,169 Codify Landscape design standards for the CoP Yes - Development Yes Yes - Probably in kind design ditto
2015 53,484 Yes -
2020 60,645 Yes - Via ADOT grant(s).
2025 68,754 Major landowners and developers
2030 77,959
2035 88,397
2040 100,231
2045 113,645
2050 128,815

Survey Segments of the Prescott Population

Description: In order to more clearly understand what sorts of services, activities, and entertainment will be needed to support the diversification of the population of Prescott as we look at trying to attract more young professionals in technology related fields we recommend that surveys be prepared and administered to different segments of the existing population.

o Youth:  High School/Early Twenties – our committee has worked on formulating a survey for this group and hopes to have it administered in the High Schools at least and tabulated prior to our final report
o Young Professionals:  Mid Twenties to late Thirties
o Middle age:  Early Forties to Late Fifties
o Retired:  Early 60s on

Implementation Steps:

Key Long Range Implementation Phases:

• Phase I (2009) –
• Phase II (2010 – 2011) –

• Phase III (2011-2015)
• Phase IV (2016 – 2020)

• Phase V (2021 – 2025) –

Date Population Projections Tasks Tied in with other committees? Financial Funding from COP? Private /Public Funding? Outside Groups Other plans
2007 43,217
2009 45,813 Design and administer surveys Yes - MYAC,
PV 2050 Youth Committee, Aging Committee School district,
Yavapai College
2010 47,169 Begin integration of information into plans
2015 53,484
2020 60,645
2025 68,754
2030 77,959
2035 88,397
2040 100,231
2045 113,645
2050 128,815