Date

WVCP Comments

Yavapai County Actions

January 18, 1993

Attempts at producing a plan for the Williamson Valley area began least 14 years ago! 

The Board met with Planning & Building Director Mike Rozycki, who told the Board that three community plans had been completed as well as the ADOT Highway 69 access plan, and that his next priority was the plan for the Highway 69 corridor, after which he planned to move to the Williamson Valley area plan

July 27, 1994

By mid-1994 the Williamson Valley planning effort was under way.  The Williamson Valley Study Preliminary Background Draft dated July 27, 1994 was prepared for the Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission. 

Staff recommends the appointment of a volunteer citizens' group to assist in the development and distribution of a background summary and public survey which targets highlighted land use issues.

Depending on the length of public review (and any subsequent revision process), a plan for this area may be in affect by Spring of '95.

1994-1995

The preliminary study led to the first survey of the residents of Williamson Valley.

Review of the Williamson Valley Study project appears as a monthly discussion item on Commission agendas.

Staff recommends that, once the Commission and technical advisors have had the chance to review the preliminary background materials, a series of local "open houses" be staged at appropriate intervals.

The public survey will provide the impetus for development of general land use goals and policies. Staff recommends the public have the opportunity to review and comment on the outcome prior to further consideration by the Commission.

September 14, 1995

A report on that survey, the Williamson Valley Planning Area Citizens Survey [see SURVEY for copy] was  dated Sept 14, 1995.  Surveys were sent out to the 2900 landowners identified as living within the boundary of the study area.  A total of 977 surveys were returned for a return rate of 33.7 percent.

What use was made, if any, of the results from this professionally done survey is totally unclear!

The survey report was prepared for the Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission and Yavapai County Planning and Building Department by the Office of Rural Resource Management and Planning in the Department of Geography and public Planning in the School of Forestry of Northern Arizona University. 

May 15, 1996

 A plan, now being called The Williamson Valley Community Plan, was placed on the P & Z agenda for May 22nd and June 6th, 1996 with a target date for it going to the Board of Supervisors in July. 

Mr. Rozycki(Planning Director) stated that this particular Community Plan had been on-going for a considerable length of time and that a great deal of progress had been made. He said that the community had been more involved in this project than was the norm, had submitted responses to surveys and involved themselves with the effort.

November 1996

Report on Williamson Valley Corridor Study.  Focus of study to preserve right-of-way for ultimate configuration of Williamson Valley Road from Iron Springs to Hootenanny Rd.  Plans for ultimate configuration of 4 lanes when traffic counts exceed 10,000 ADT

Report prepared for Yavapai County by Boyle Engineering Corp.

Report notes that in public meetings residents were opposed to commercial development and concerned with safety due to increased traffic.

May 14, 1997

The planning process apparently slowed considerably

The Board and Commission discussed   Williamson Valley Community Plan Status Report and effort to address issues and complete Community Plan. Mr. Rozycki explained that due to personnel changes this plan was behind schedule

July 15, 1998

After 4 ½ years in the works, there is still very little progress by Yavapai County.

Planning Commissioner Buchanan and Board of Supervisor Chairman Feldmeier urge that the Williamson Valley Corridor Plan be given priority.  

Mr. Rozycki said if there was a driving need to do something with the Williamson Valley Community Plan, he would probably need outside help.  Mr. Buchanan said he wished to state for the record his belief that Williamson Valley should have first priority for a community plan.   

Chairman Feldmeier said the Board had made a commitment to move forward with community plans, and that the two priorities were the Williamson Valley plan and the Highway 69 corridor plan because people in those areas had waited their turn.   

May 24, 1999

A survey was sent out to approximately 775 residents of Williamson Valley Corridor by the Williamson Valley Concerned Citizens (WVCC).  They had a return of approximately 40 percent .  See [SURVEY] page for results.

May 2002

Final Design Concept Report, Iron Springs to Pioneer Parkway.  Recommends 4 and 5 lane road.

Prepared for Yavapai County and City of Prescott by Cannon & Associates and Dava and Associates

August 28, 2002

After 9 ½ years still no plan.

Supervisor Brownlow said one area that really needed a community plan was the Williamson Valley area.

January 29, 2003

The County begins to muddy the water. 

Mr. Spedding said that Williamson Valley is a housing development or a corridor and  does not fit the criteria for a community plan.

January 29, 2003

A request for zoning change to permit the Country Store is made.

May 2003

Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization is formed.

The Central Yavapai Metropolitan Planning Organization (CYMPO), a partnership of Chino Valley, City of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Yavapai County and the Arizona Department of Transportation, was established in June 2003 by federal mandate when the region achieved a population of 50,000.  Its purpose is to cooperatively plan the transportation future of the Central Yavapai region.  

April 2004

Williamson Valley Road improvement planning begins

Yavapai County contracts with Civiltec Engr to design an improved 2 lane road with turn lanes.

Contract for $190,622

October 28, 2004

Public input on 3-lane road

Public input meeting held by Yavapai County Public Works Department.  Proposed improvements to Williamson Valley Road are shown as either a two-lane road with some left turn lanes and deceleration lanes for right turns or a two-lane road plus a continuous center lane for left turns with deceleration lanes for right turns. 

November 2, 2004

County Supervisor election

Carol Springer elected Yavapai County Supervisor

November 10, 2004

Civiltec Engr Williamson Valley Design project suspended

Phil Bourdon e-mails john@civiltecengr.com asking them to suspend design work.

November 24, 2004

Civil Tec design estimates for WV Road-Pioneer Parkway to Outer Loop Rd;

  3-lanes-$ 8,869,501

  4 lanes-$13,543,185

  5 lanes-$15,326,739

Civiltec letter to Yavapai County.  Also claims that the 4 and 5 lane concepts evolved as a result of public meeting.

January 3, 2005

Board of Supervisors meeting

A claim that the ranches to the north will be subdivided and need a 5-lane road. 

Chairman Carol Springer states that one group representing everyone is needed before spending planning funds.  Presently there are two organizations (the Friends of Williamson Valley and Williamson Valley Corridor Plan, Inc.) which are working together with several common goals.  While the approach to achieving the goals by these two organizations differs, the ultimate goals are the same.

Supervisor Thurman said the ranches on the north end of Williamson Valley Road would eventually be subdivided and that was why four to five lanes were needed on Williamson Valley Road. ...

Chairman Springer said the reason she was reluctant to specifically tell County departments to work with people in Williamson Valley because there was no one to work with. She said there were different groups in the area and that the County needed one group that it could work with to help develop a community plan

January 20, 2005

The Williamson Valley Corridor Plan (WVCP) Steering Committee is formed with the mission to develop a Corridor Plan.  Work began to prepare a plan.

Steering committee met with Yavapai County to establish corridor boundaries.

February 2005

First public meeting held at Embry-Riddle (ERAU).  Plan sub-committees formed.

March 2005

Survey sent to all property owners in corridor (4125).  31% returned.  See [Survey] for results.

June 6, 2005

Design contract for 5 lane road from Pioneer Parkway to Outer Loop Road

Yavapai County contracts with Civiltec Engr to produce set of biddable documents for 5-lane project of WV Road from Pioneer Parkway to Outer Loop Rd.

June 2005

Second public meeting for WV Corridor plan held at ERAU.

October 2005

Third public meeting.  First Corridor Plan draft presented.

Corridor Plan sent to Yavapai County for review.

November 2005

Second draft Corridor Plan incorporates Yavapai County comments.

January 4, 2006

Williamson Valley Corridor Plan, Inc. incorporated to finalize the Corridor Plan that, when adopted by Yavapai County will amend the Yavapai County General Plan.

February 2006

Yavapai County and City of Prescott award contract to Kimley-Horn to design a 5-lane road from Iron Springs to Pioneer Parkway.

Contract cost of $1,450,576

February 22, 2006

Friends of Williamson Valley, Inc. was incorporated to educate the public on all pertinent data regarding the current and proposed condition of the Williamson Valley Road.