Hold a work session to allow the City Council and the public to ask questions, seek clarification, have discussions, offer comments, and provide direction on the proposed amendment.

The proposed amendment (Attachment 1) is a request by the City to amend the Zoning Code to incorporate provisions into the Affordable Housing Incentives that would allow the City Council to approve modifications to the Property Development Standards and to allow modifications to the parking requirements to be less than one space per dwelling. The provisions would be applicable to a permanently affordable housing developments that provide 100% of the dwelling units to persons or families with a household income equal to 80% or less of the area median income for the City of Flagstaff.

I. City Council Questions:
For your reference, below is a general overview of the questions on which staff is seeking the City Council’s comments and direction.

• Does the City Council desire to incorporate the proposed amendment in to the Zoning Code?
• Does the City Council have any recommended modifications or considerations on the proposed Zoning Code Text Amendment?

II.    Overview of Proposed Amendment:
The proposed amendment (Attachment 1) incorporates provisions into the Affordable Housing Incentives that would allow the City Council to approve modifications to the Property Development Standards (e.g., area, width, lot size, setback open space, etc.), excluding building height, outdoor lighting, signs, and density related provisions.  The provisions would be applicable to permanently affordable housing developments, as defined in the Code, that provide 100% of the dwelling units to persons or families with a household income equal to 80% or less of the area median income for the City of Flagstaff.

The intent of the proposed provisions is to allow property owners of permanently affordable housing developments to request modifications to the Property Development Standards and allow for alternative design solutions.  The proposed provisions will also allow Council to modify the parking requirements for multifamily residential to a rate that is less than one space per dwelling unit.

To approve a request to modify the Property Development Standards, the City Council will be required to find that the incorporated findings have been met.  In summary, these findings are to ensure that the modifications to the Property Development Standards: maintain consistency with the Regional Plan (General Plan); will not cause health, safety, convenience, welfare, or other hazard; maintain consistency with other developments that exist in the area; and are similar in quality to other developments that are available to the public at market rate.

III.    Findings:
At a future City Council meeting, the City Council will be requested to make the required findings specified in the Zoning Code and adopt the proposed amendment.  For your reference and discussion purposes, the necessary findings are specified below.

1. The proposed amendment is consistent with and conforms to the objectives and policies of the General Plan and any applicable specific plan;
2. The proposed amendment will not be detrimental to the public interest, health, safety, convenience, or welfare of the City; and
3. The proposed amendment is internally consistent with other applicable provisions of this Zoning Code.

IV.    Community Involvement
The proposed amendment was advertised in the Arizona Daily Sun on January 26, 2021, which is 14 days before the scheduled meeting date. As of the date of this memorandum, staff has not received any public comments on the proposed amendment.

VI.    Conclusion:
As indicated above, the purpose of the work session is for staff to present an overview of the Zoning Code's proposed amendment and allow interested individuals, residents, and business owners to provide comments.  Also, the work session allows for the City Council to ask questions, seek clarification, have discussions, and offer comments on the proposed amendment. No formal action is to occur at the work session.  Additional opportunities for discussion, public comment, and action by the City Council will occur at a future public hearing.

The anticipated timeline for the amendments is as follows:

• February 9, 2021 – City Council Work Session
• February 10, 2021 – Planning and Zoning Commission Work Session
• February 24, 2021 – Potential Planning and Zoning Commission Public Hearing
• February  25, 2021 – Housing Commission
• March 2, 2021 – Potential City Council Public Hearing (1st Reading of Ordinance)
• March 16, 2021 – Potential City Council Public Hearing (2nd Reading of Ordinance/Adoption)