THE CITY OF PRESCOTT HAS BEEN ACTIVELY SEEKING TO PROTECT THE OPERATIONS OF THE PRESCOTT REGIONAL AIRPORT BY SECURING LAND AROUND THE FACILITY AND ENSURING COMPATIBLE USES WITH THE CURRENT AND POSSIBLE FUTURE OPERATIONS. COUNCIL VOTED 5-2 AFTER LAST WEEK’S EXECUTIVE SESSION TO ENTER INTO A PRE-ANNEXATION AGREEMENT WITH DEEP WELL RANCH. THIS INCLUDES ABOUT 600 ACRES OF LAND NORTH OF THE AIRPORT, CONSIDERED TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE CRITICAL FLY OVER ZONES. 

THIS AGREEMENT IS PART OF GOOD FAITH EFFORTS IN ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS TO EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR COMPATIBLE LAND USES AROUND THE AIRPORT. WITH THE APPROVAL OF THIS AGREEMENT, ANNEXATION IS NOT GUARANTEED; IT SIMPLY OUTLINES THE TERMS OF ANNEXATION IF IT WERE TO OCCUR IN THE FUTURE. 

IF AN ANNEXATION IS APPROVED, THE LAND WILL BE DEVELOPED IN THE NEWLY ANNEXED AREA INSTEAD OF THE CLOSER AREAS. THERE WOULD BE NO INCREASES IN THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS ALLOWED, OR WATER USE, BEYOND WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL DEEP WELL MASTER PLAN AGREEMENT APPROVED IN 2017. RATHER, NEW HOUSING UNITS WOULD BE BUILT IN AN AREA CONSIDERED TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE CRITICAL FLY OVER ZONES.

THIS PRE ANNEXATION AGREEMENT CONTEMPLATES THAT THE CITY WOULD BEGIN THE PUBLIC NOTIFICATION PROCESS AND RECEIVE INPUT REGARDING ANNEXATION, BUT THE CITY WILL ONLY BE CONSIDERING ANNEXATION IF DOING SO IS PART OF A RESOLUTION WITH DEEP WELL RANCH THAT ADEQUATELY ENSURES COMPATIBLE USES NEAR THE AIRPORT. 

THE CITY WILL CREATE A PAGE ON THE WEBSITE TO HOUSE INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE AIRPORT PROTECTION PRE-ANNEXATION.  THIS PAGE WILL BE ACCESSIBLE FROM THE CITY’S HOME PAGE, AND OPERATIONAL BY JUNE 1ST.