A Workforce Housing Strategy and Implementation Plan received Prescott City Council approval in a contentious vote during its March 10 meeting.
The plan is intended to provide more reasonable housing options for workers in healthcare, public safety, education and local government. Often, Prescott residents are subject to paying in excess of 30% of their income on housing.
The plan started in 2024 when the Arizona Department of Housing provided the City with $200K from the State Housing Trust Fund. Later, in 2025, Prescott hired Elliott D. Pollack & Co. to create it.
A draft was presented to City Council on Jan. 13, which led to discussions between Council and the consultant. The plan was then approved on a 4-3 vote.
The plan features 11 separate initiatives to increase affordability. These consist of:
- Adding Workforce Housing Policy Framework to the City’s Land Development Code;
- Increasing the number of available incentives for workforce housing developments;
- Implementing a Workforce Housing Certification form;
- Creating a Community Land Trust to lease land for 99-year terms;
- Creating an Infill Incentive District in underused areas;
- Looking at funding options and creating a Workforce Housing Trust Fund;
- Identifying housing resources for City employees;
- Forming an inventory of surplus land;
- Laying the groundwork for a Workforce Housing Program;
- Looking into other methods to better implement the strategy, such as a Government Property Lease Excise Tax, and
- Promoting “missing middle” homes.
Dissenting council members shared concerns that the strategy primarily focuses on new developments and does not focus enough on current housing options. Other concerns focused on limited City resources and the potential need to hire additional workers. (Source)