Public Hearing and Consideration of Resolution No. 2015-36:  A resolution amending the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030 to change the area type designation of approximately 28.7 acres of real property located at 3200 W. Route 66 from Future Urban, Future Suburban, and Area in White to Existing Suburban. (A minor Regional Plan amendment request related to the proposed McAllister Ranch Public Works Yard).

This request is the second of three related items. The Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030 establishes the vision for the future growth and development of Flagstaff and its surrounding area through goals and policies.  General plans are not static documents; they recognize growth as a dynamic process which may require revisions to the plan as circumstances or changes warrant.  The City of Flagstaff (applicant) is requesting a minor plan amendment to allow for the development of a new public works facility.  A Regional Plan Amendment is required for expanding or changing the boundaries of one area type to another area type. All substantive issues are addressed in the attached Planning & Zoning Commission staff report.  At the conclusion of the public hearing on October 28, 2015, the Planning & Zoning Commission voted 7-0 to forward the request to the City Council with a recommendation of approval.

The money resources for the Facility are $14,000,000 bonding authority, landfill fees, both debt and one time money, totaling $5,500,000 and the appraised values for McAllister Ranch at $2,178,000 and the Mogollon property at $2,256,000.  Total resources:  $23,934,000 available for the Facility.
 
 

 

COUNCIL GOALS:
3) Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics
11) Ensure that we are as prepared as possible for extreme weather events

REGIONAL PLAN:
Goal E&C.5. Preserve dark skies as an unspoiled natural resource, basis for an important economic sector, and core element of community character.
Goal E.1. Increase energy efficiency.
Goal E&C.1. Proactively improve and maintain the region’s air quality.
Goal E&C.2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Goal E&C.10. Protect indigenous wildlife populations, localized and larger-scale wildlife habitats, ecosystem processes, and wildlife movement areas throughout the planning area.
Goal WR.3. Satisfy current and future human water demands and the needs of the natural environment through sustainable and renewable water resources and strategic conservation measures.
Goal WR.4. Logically enhance and extend the City’s public water, wastewater, and reclaimed water services including their treatment, distribution, and collection systems in both urbanized and newly developed areas of the City to provide an efficient delivery of services.
Goal WR.5. Manage watersheds and stormwater to address flooding concerns, water quality, environmental protections, and rainwater harvesting.
Goal WR.6. Protect, preserve, and improve the quality of surface water, groundwater, and reclaimed water in the region.
Policy CC.2.3. Mitigate development impacts on heritage resources.
Goal ED.9. Promote redevelopment and infill. [The proposed development is not consistent with this goal]
Policy LU.6.2. Consider commercial core areas, corridors, activity centers, employment centers, research and development parks, special planning areas, and industrial uses as appropriate place types and area types for employment opportunities.
Goal CC.3. Preserve, restore, enhance, and reflect the design traditions of Flagstaff in all public and private development efforts.
Goal CC.4. Design and develop all projects to be contextually sensitive, to enhance a positive image and identity for the region.
Policy LU.7.2. Require unincorporated properties to be annexed prior to the provision of City services, or that a pre-annexation agreement is executed when deemed appropriate.
Policy LU.I 0.5. Consider vacant and underutilized parcels within the City's existing urban neighborhoods as excellent locations for contextual redevelopment that adds housing, shopping, employment, entertainment, and recreational options for nearby residents and transit patrons.
Goal T.1. Improve mobility and access throughout the region.
Policy PF.I.I. Consider climate resiliency and preparedness in community planning and development to be better prepared for changing conditions.
Policy PF.I.2. Allocate available public resources necessary for the City and County to prepare and adapt for natural and human-caused hazards so that all government operations support community resiliency.
Policy PF.2.3. Provide accessible public facilities and services in strategic locations.

On 7/15/14 the Council rejected a total of nine proposals for alternative sites for the McAllister Ranch public works (core services) facility.
 

 

The City Council may approve, deny, or modify the resolution as necessary to ensure that the development meets the objectives of the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030 and the City of Flagstaff's development goals.

This request is the second of three related items on the Council’s agenda; the first item is identified as an Annexation request and the third item is a Zoning Map amendment request.
 
The applicant, City of Flagstaff, is requesting a minor Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030 (FRP 2030) amendment to ensure conformance with a proposed Zoning Map amendment to allow for the development of a new public works facility consisting of 87,280 square feet of buildings, associated parking and outdoor storage. Access to the development will be created from Route 66 by improving an existing driveway located 800 feet west of Woody Mountain Rd.  The developed public works site will cover approximately 24 acres. The proposed map amendment to the FRP 2030 will affect approximately 28.7 acres of land depicted on the Future Growth Illustration (Maps 21 and 22). The McAllister Ranch compound which is not part of the proposed public works facility is designated Future Suburban, thus that area is not part of the amendment.  The ranch compound is on the same 44.01-acre parcel as the proposed public works yard.  The subject site is located on the north side of West Route 66 between Woody Mountain Road and Flagstaff Ranch Road. The property was acquired by the City of Flagstaff in September 2001.  See Annexation Report PZ-15-00077 for complete Public Impact Analysis discussion.

If the public hearing is successfully concluded, a resolution may be considered by the City Council.  Resolution No. 2015-36 changes the area type designation on Map 21 and 22 to Existing Suburban for approximately 28.7 acres of city-owned property.

This list below identifies several key points and community benefits supporting (+) or not supporting (-) the proposed amendment:
 
+    The West Route 66 location affords easy access to I-40 and the east side of town;
+    The location improves the ability to execute emergency management;
+    Existing tranportation infrastructure and existing water infrastructure is available at this site;
+    The proposed outdoor lighting plan will use a state-of-the-art system to help preserve dark skies;
+    The development will conserve 53% of the forest resources and the abundance of trees will help screen the public works facility;
+    The project relocates the facility and truck traffic out of a residential neighborhood and creates an opportunity for appropriate redevelopment within the neighborhood;
+    The project will provide employment for approximately 146 full-time employees in a Future Urban Activity Center;
-     The West Route 66 location is not an infill development and is not placed within a neighborhood which would promote walkability;
+    Although not an infill development, the proposed site is within the Urban Growth Boundary and can be efficiently and effectively provided facilities and services by the City. 
 

 

Inform/Consult
The applicant held a neighborhood meeting on January 21, 2015 to discuss the annexation, general plan amendment, and rezoning of the properties. Meeting notification letters were mailed to all property owners and HOAs within a 1200 foot radius, and to the City's "Registry of Persons and Groups" as provided by the City. The Citizen Participation Report is attached to the rezoning packet. 

In accordance with Arizona Revised Statute and Section 10-20.30.080 (p. 20.30-9) of the Zoning Code, notice of the public hearings was provided by placing an ad in the Daily Sun, posting notices on the property, and mailing a notice to all property owners within 1200 feet of the subject property (exceeding the 300-foot requirement).  As of this writing, Planning staff has received one e-mail dated 10/16/15 from a property owner south of the subject site (see attached email). The citizen had a question concerning why the request to change the designation of the subject site to Existing Suburban when the area appears to be more rural. Staff provided a response via e-mail.  Since the area has paved roads and water infrastructure, and the proposed facility will bring employment, it is considered a Suburban area type rather than Rural which would have minimal services and employment.

• (Recommended Action):  The City Council may approve the Regional Plan amendment as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission and staff by reading and adopting Resolution No. 2015-36.
• The City Council may approve the Regional Plan amendment with modifications to the resolution.
• The City Council may deny the Regional Plan amendment.