Prescott planning commission backs preliminary plat for 4-lot Lafferty Ranch subdivision

The Prescott Planning Commission voted unanimously Sept. 25 to recommend approval of PLN25-002, a preliminary plat for Lafferty Ranch, a proposed four-lot residential subdivision and a separate tract reserved for future apartments on about 15.3 acres on the north side of State Route 69 across from Costco. The staff recommendation, presented by Jacob Lund, community planner, said the plat meets preliminary-plat requirements and applicable code standards.
The preliminary plat would split the parcel into four lots, each proposed to meet the RE-2 (rural estate two-acre) minimum lot size; the southern portion of the site is zoned MFNM (multifamily medium density) and contains the tract intended for future apartments. The applicant provided a slope analysis and revised a restricted building envelope for Lot 2 after staff review; staff said the envelope was shifted to areas mapped with slopes of 0–20 percent so the lot meets the city's hillside development standards for building placement.
Commissioners and staff also discussed access and fire safety. Jacob Lund said access to the subdivision would be through the southern parcel and via a recorded ingress/egress easement; Alex Bramlett, representing public safety review, said sprinkler requirements would be determined later at the building-permit stage based on building size and distance-to-access considerations. Chair Don Michelman asked whether the tract reserved for apartments would return to the commission; Lund replied the apartments would be allowed by right if the southern parcel is rezoned, and thus separate review would occur if and when that project advances.
Commissioner Tom O'Reilly moved to recommend approval; Susan Graham seconded. The roll call vote recorded approval by all seven commissioners present and the motion passed. The approved preliminary plat materials in the packet show the lot layout, slope mapping with color-coded ranges, and the location of the ingress/egress easement.
Staff noted no changes were requested beyond the revised restricted building envelope and that the applicant had coordinated with public works and fire on turnaround and utility easement dimensions. The approval was for the preliminary plat recommendation only; final plats and any future building permits or separate rezonings would be subject to further review and any applicable conditions of approval.