Prescott 2050

Natural Area Preservation Report

Prescott Vision 2050 Committee

Natural Area Preservation Study Group:

Final Report

January 7, 2009

Committee Members:

Tom Pettit, Chair Nancy Maurer, Secretary

Charlene Craig Ed Parry

Paul Katan Jeri Smith-Fornara

Jinny Balentine

Scope of Work

Members of the 2050 Natural Area Preservation Study Group defined the group’s scope of work as follows:

1. Assess current definitions and understanding of Prescott Natural Areas.

2. Identify current problems, trends, and public perceptions around natural area preservation

3. Research existing partners and strategies for natural area acquisition and preservation (funding, legislation, awareness, etc.)

4. Recommend solutions for the future preservation of Prescott Natural Areas.

Definition of “Natural Area”

The 2050 Natural Area Preservation Study Group defines “Natural Area” as:

An area of land that is valued for its natural processes, wildlife, and healthy ecosystems - which may include agricultural and recreational uses - for the benefit of all forms of life.

Synopsis
The current state of Prescott Natural Area Preservation (NAP) has been largely defined by the city’s 2000 election.
In May 2000 voters approved the extension of a one-percent sales tax through December 2015. This extension provided for a portion of the revenue to be used
for “open space” acquisition. The resolution capped the amount of tax revenue available for open space acquisition at $40.7 million and dedicates the balance for road improvements.

For fiscal year 2008-2009, the City of Prescott has spent almost $8 million for 120 acres of natural areas. In the previous 6 years, approximately $7 million was spent for 155 acres, for a total expenditure of about 37% of the allowed $40.7 million.
Current challenges to Natural Area preservation include:
- Limited support and understanding, by city leadership, of NAP as an important need, not a want, in planning and budgeting of the city’s growth.

-A Mayoral appointed advisory committee with no authority to ensure that NAP is key factor in our city’s planning and growth.
-Current sales tax funding linked to roads. Funding excludes additional costs associated with NAP stewardship and maintenance.
-NAP acquisitions are usually considered a low priority by elected officials, when compared to other tax funded projects (i.e. road repairs and improvements)
-Natural areas are valued for potential tax revenue versus inherent value.
-Antiquated State trust land laws prevent coordination of land conservation with local governments.
The Prescott Vision 2050 Committee’s survey of citizens identified “Natural beauty”, “Western heritage/history”, and “Water” as 3 of the top four priorities for preservation. Also significant are the top four challenges identified in the survey. They are “Water”, “Traffic/roads”, “Growth”, and “Quality of life”.
While the public ranks Natural Area Preservation highly, citizen surveys reveal a paradox in the understanding of NAP. Many in favor of NAP are resistant to higher density housing/developments, despite the fact that higher density would allow for increased natural area creation and habitat connectivity. There also seems to be a public misconception that existing scenic natural areas will remain untouched when many of these parcels and view sheds have potential to be developed by private land owners, sold by the State Land Trust, or the National Forest. These apparent contradictions in the public’s understanding of NAP point to a need for additional/ongoing education.

Local, organizations such as the Mayor’s Open Space Acquisition Advisory Committee, the Open Space Alliance of Central Yavapai County, Citizens for the Protection of the Prescott Area, the Nature Conservancy and the Central Arizona Land Trust are working to educate the public and local government officials to the myriad benefits and challenges to preserving Natural Areas.

An important document published by the Department of Agriculture, “Forest Service Open Space Conservation Strategy: Cooperating across boundaries to sustain working and natural landscapes” succinctly presented a number of concepts that are valuable for Natural Area Preservation in Prescott.  The document specifically addressed issues relevant to the Forest Service, but they are also relevant to the City of Prescott, where growth and development will impact the sustainability of natural systems and the overall quality of life for all citizens. Major factors identified as Natural Area Preservation and Open Space Benefits are:
• clean water and air
• protect water supply
• natural flood protection
• sustain working landscapes
• food production
• wildlife habitat and corridors
• endangered species recovery
• climate regulation
• scenic beauty
• recreation opportunities and access
• community revitalization
• improved human health
• opportunities to connect youth with nature
• increase property values

All of these factors combine to speak to the need of Natural Area Preservation as part of the Green Infrastructure critical to maintaining the overall quality of life in Prescott.

NAP Study Group Vision Statement
Surrounded by Granite, Mingus, and Bradshaw Mountains, Watson, Willow, and Goldwater Lakes, the Granite Dells, and the Prescott National Forest, the City of Prescott is highlighted by its Natural Areas. Citizens of Prescott, as well as visitors, regularly enjoy the water, wildlife, and serenity that our natural areas provide. It is the vision of this study group that, as our human population grows, so grows the need to preserve our natural areas. Natural areas’ intrinsic processes, wildlife, and healthy ecosystems benefit all forms of life. Recreation and agricultural uses may be easily included in natural area preservation.

In addition to these fundamental benefits, our committee sees the following as necessary indicators, to ensure that natural areas grow, with our population, to 2050 and beyond:

- Natural areas valued as a need, not a want, with commensurate funding in perpetuity.
- Increased connectivity between large natural areas, including trails, green-ways and wildlife corridors.
- Preservation of small natural areas – (i.e. neighborhood parks, trails, garden space).
- Preservation of existing bio-diversity, wildlife species and habitats.
- Convenient access to natural areas for recreational opportunities for all citizens regardless of age, ability, or income.
- Natural areas utilized as buffers between developed areas.
- Open, dynamic, productive dialogue on natural area preservation between all governmental agencies.
- Emergence of a culture of collaboration surrounding natural area preservation.
- Preservation of remaining ridgelines, view sheds, and natural areas that provide scenic backdrops.
- Broad understanding of natural area preservation as it relates protection of our essential watershed.

Recommendations

1) City leadership and citizens organize commensurate funding and/or identify mechanisms for Natural Area acquisition, stewardship, and management:

A) Bond issue for out right purchase of natural areas.
B) Dedicated funding source (i.e. sales taxes, property taxes, federal funding) for natural area preservation.
C) Ongoing budgeting for Natural Area Preservation, including acquisition and maintenance, beyond 2015.
D) Develop systems to allow donation of funds and/or parcels appropriate for Natural Area Preservation.

2) City of Prescott develops planning and zoning practices/policies that prioritize the creation and permanent preservation of natural areas:

A) Planned Area Development (PAD) planning process requirement of developer to provide, purchase, or contribute funds for NAP.
B) Incentives for developers who assist in preserving quality natural areas (i.e. the city purchases natural area from the developer in exchange for a higher density design).
C) No exemptions for PAD requirements for NAP based on proximity to existing natural areas
D) .Allocate a set percentage of money from impact fees to go towards natural area preservation.
E) Implement a Design Review Board that includes ridgeline/view-shed protection policy.
F) Establishment of a strong Natural Area Preservation Commission that follows the recommendations of the Open Space Master plan.
G) Ensure acquired natural areas are preserved in perpetuity under conservation easements.
H) Identify city owned lands that qualify as NA are preserved in perpetuity under conservation easements.
I) Support efforts to modernize state trust land laws to allow for land conservation, in coordination with local governments.
J) Cooperate with neighboring stakeholders (i.e Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Yavapai Tribe, U.S. Forrest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Sate Land Department) to preserve natural areas and their connectivity bio-regionally.

3) City of Prescott organizes public outreach and education about Natural Area Preservation:

A) Engage citizens to help identify areas of concern or interest.
B) Conduct a NAP specific citizen survey.
C) Create opportunities for tax deductible, voluntary citizen donations for NAP.
D) Promote NAP in any of the city’s related business.
E) Implement a media campaign to educate citizens about the many benefits of Natural Area preservation.
F) Seek a “right of first refusal,” whenever economically feasible, at appraised values on prioritized/desired lands.
G) Actively outreach for the donation of lands or conservation easements before buying.
H) Promote the benefits of donating lands or conservation easements.