Apache Junction will soon offer property owners home design plans at no charge. The city is following a program developed in Yavapai County.
County residents can choose from six floor plans, representing one-, two- and three-bedroom homes.
“Those range from about 672 square feet to about 2,300 square feet,” said Jeremey Dye, director, Yavapai County Development Services Department.
Since the county launched its program called, “A Home of My Own!”, in 2020, Dye said 71 construction permits have been issued and 21 homes have been built.
“They're not designed to be super fancy by any means, but they're designed to definitely be functional, energy efficient, less expensive to build,” he said. ”Anecdotally, we've heard from some builders, the one-bedroom has been being built for about the $65,000 to $70,000 range. The three-bedroom has been built in about the $150,000 to $200,000 range.”
In about a month, Apache Junction residents will get access to similar housing plans. The city said using their pre-approved designs can save people an estimated $2,000 in permit fees and thousands more in architect fees.
According to a press release, the three options for Apache Junction property owners will be presented during a future City Council meeting closer to the project launch, which is estimated to be in four to six weeks. The design plans will be posted on the city's website available to Apache Junction residents who plan to build within the city limits.
Dye said some Yavapai County residents have expressed interest in altering the plans, but the program does not allow that because, “the homes are already designed, they're pre-reviewed, they're stamped by an architect, so they have to be built as they are designed.”
He said interiors can be decorated to the owner’s preference as long as no structural modifications are needed.
