Payson council votes 7-0 to leap tall buildings

By Matt Brabb
Mogollon Connection Editor

The Payson Town Council voted unanimously last week to amend the Unified Development Code to potentially allow for buildings as tall as 56 feet anywhere in town with the exception of parcels zoned R1, and areas within 75 feet of R1 properties.

According to Payson Mayor Kenny Evans, for all practical purposes, the measure allows for four story buildings.

In order for a developer to qualify to build a taller structure, he or she must meet a litany of requirements before getting approval from the planning and zoning commission through the conditional use permit (CUP) process.

Factors that will be considered before approval is given include impact to ridge lines/sky lines, preservations of native vegetation, scale of adjacent development, elimination of blight, privacy of adjacent property owners, community benefit, and the location and size of the parcel. All told, the planning and zoning commission will review 16 criteria before making a judgment.

Despite the fact that the council enacted a nominal cap of 56 feet, there is another way a developer can proceed in which there is no height limit at all. If they take the route of a Planned Area Development (PAD), there are no limits on the heights of buildings. According to Evans and Community Development Director Ray Erlandsen, this has always been the case.

To get PAD approval however, a supermajority of the town council has to vote in favor of the PAD plan and narrative. That means 6 of 7 Councilors need to vote yes.

“There are a very limited number of properties that are available for a PAD,” said Erlandsen.

Payson resident Lois McClusky spoke out against the change to allow for taller buildings during the public comment period of the meeting.

“When I first came to this small mountain town, it was as if it were an extension of the forest. The great trees dwarfed the buildings. To hide our giant trees would definitely diminish the town. Let’s remember that we are a town in the midst of a forest,” she said.

Councilor Michael Hughes explained that public sentiment would be considered regarding decisions on where taller buildings might be approved.

“There will be ample opportunity for public input if they go over 45 feet,” he said.

Evans said there were probably only a half dozen areas in town that would meet the criteria.

“I don’t know if the event center would qualify or not,” he said, when questioned about the rumor that the event center was one location targeted for development under the amended code. He declined to be specific about what sites he thought might potentially be approved by the planning and zoning commission for buildings as high as 56 feet.

One citizen questioned the town’s ability to battle fires in taller buildings. Fire Chief Martin deMasi conceded that such fires would present a challenge.

“They are more complex and difficult for fire-fighters to handle,” he said. “Whether you have ladders or not, it’s how many people you can bring to attack the fire.”

Councilor Ed Blair, who was elected in 2006 as a proponent of responsible growth, voted along with the rest of the council to allow for taller buildings.

“Help us get the message out, that it’s 56 feet only with the permission of planning and zoning,” he said.

“I think there are adequate safeguards, and if anything really big comes up, it will come to the council.”