Consideration and Adoption of Ordinance No. 2022-03: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Flagstaff, amending the Flagstaff Zoning Map to rezone approximately 299.68 acres of real property generally located at 1900 North Gemini Drive, APN 101-37-002J, 107-01-001F, 107-01-001G, 101-37-001E, 101-37-002H, 101-28-007E, 107-01-001B, and 101-28-007C, and a portion of APN 110-08-001G and 109-02-001S, from the Rural Residential (RR), Public Facility (PF), and Research and Development (RD) zones with a Resource Protection Overlay (RPO) to the Public Open Space (POS) zone with a Resource Protection Overlay (RPO), providing for severability, authority for clerical corrections, and establishing an effective date. (McMillan Mesa Natural Area Concept Zoning Map Amendment: PZ-20-00063).

Concept Zoning Map Amendment, by the City of Flagstaff Open Space Program, of approximately 299.68 acres distributed across 10 parcels located at 1900 North Gemini Drive from the Rural Residential (RR), Public Facility (PF), and Research and Development (RD) zones with a Resource Protection Overlay (RPO) to the Public Open Space (POS) zone with a Resource Protection Overlay (RPO).  This area is known as the McMillan Mesa Natural Area (MMNA). The Planning & Zoning Commission held a public hearing on this request on January 12, 2022.  In a 5-0 vote the Commission recommends that the City Council approve this rezoning subject to the condition as drafted by staff.

No financial impacts are anticipated with this request.

There are no policy impacts affiliated with this request.

Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives

• Livable Community
  • Provide amenities and activities that support a healthy lifestyle.
• Environmental Stewardship
  • Actively manage and protect all environmental and natural resources.
  • Provide environmental community outreach, education, and volunteer opportunities.

Regional Plan

• A complete analysis of the Regional Plan goals and policies can be found in the attached project narrative and Planning & Zoning Commission staff report dated December 21, 2021.

Carbon Neutrality Plan

• DD-2: Create inclusive networks for walking and biking that are continuous, attractive, safe, comprehensive, and convenient for people of all ages.

• December 15, 1992: The City Council adopted Ordinance 92-1779, which adopted the McMillan Mesa Village Specific Plan. Five of the 10 parcels in this rezoning request are included in the McMillan Mesa Village Specific Plan. 
• November 28, 2016: The City Council adopted Resolution 2016-38, which ratified the results of Proposition 413. This proposition was passed by Flagstaff voters on November 8, 2016 to restrict the use of approximately 300 acres of City of Flagstaff-owned property on McMillan Mesa to public open space and passive recreation. The area covered in Proposition 413 is known as the McMillan Mesa Natural Area (MMNA).
• October 16, 2018: The City Council adopted Resolution 2018-15 to amend the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030. This amendment updated the Future Growth Illustration (Maps 21 and 22) and the Road Network Illustration (Map 25) to make the land use and road network designations consistent with Proposition 413.
• July 7, 2020: The City Council adopted Resolution 2020-46 approving an update to the City of Flagstaff Management Plan for Legally-Designated Open Space Properties, which includes the MMNA. 

1) Approve the Concept Zoning Map Amendment with the condition as presented by Staff and as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5-0 on January 12, 2022 to forward the Concept Zoning Map Amendment request with a recommendation of approval with the following condition:

1. A Resource Protection Overlay (RPO) shall be applied to all areas contained in this rezoning request.

2) Approve the Concept Zoning Map Amendment with additional conditions, deleted conditions, or modified conditions.
3) Deny the Concept Zoning Map Amendment.

McMillan Mesa Natural Area Overview (MMNA)
The MMNA is comprised of 10 parcels located north and south of Forest/Cedar Avenue. The area included in this rezoning request is currently undeveloped. These parcels are owned by the City of Flagstaff, but two of the ten parcels are only partially included in this rezoning request. The portion of APN 110-08-001G not being rezoned contains Buffalo Park, the US Geological Survey campus, and the Northern Arizona Center for Emerging Technology (NACET) Incubator; the portion of APN 109-02-001S not being rezoned contains Buffalo Park and the triangle of land between Cedar Avenue, West Street, and Linda Vista Drive.

Three of the 10 parcels are partially designated with a Resource Protection Overlay (RPO); the remaining seven parcels have a RPO over the entire parcel area. See the attached Planning and Zoning Commission Staff Report for more information. 
 
McMillan Mesa Natural Area History
On November 8, 2016, approximately 86% of Flagstaff voters voted in favor of Proposition 413–Campaign for a Greater Buffalo Park. This proposition restricted the use of City of Flagstaff-owned Property on McMillan Mesa to public open space and passive recreation, thereby creating the MMNA. City Council approved the results by Resolution Number 2016-38 on November 28, 2016. Proposition 413 did not change the Regional Plan Land Use Designations of the MMNA, nor did it update the zoning.
 
The City Council initiated and approved the McMillan Mesa Natural Area Major Plan Amendment on October 16, 2018 (Resolution 2018-15). This resolution amended the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030 by updating the Future Growth Illustration (Maps 21 and 22) and the Road Network Illustration (Map 25) to make the land use and road network designations consistent with the MMNA. Specifically, the Amendment: 1) changed the Regional Plan land use designations of the MMNA to Parks/Open Space from Existing Suburban, Employment, Special District, Area in White (not assigned a future land use designation), Future Urban, and Future Suburban; 2) Removed the Ponderosa Parkway Connection from the Road Network Illustration (this road would have bisected the MMNA); and 3) corrected some mapping errors in the Regional Plan.
 
The MMNA is also covered in two additional City documents: The City of Flagstaff Management Plan for Legally-Designated Open Space Properties, and the McMillan Mesa Village Specific Plan. The Management Plan includes detailed information on the MMNA, including natural and historic resources, public use of the area, and a priority action plan. City Council approved the most recent update to the Management Plan on July 7, 2020 (Resolution 2020-46). The McMillan Mesa Village Specific Plan was passed by City Council Ordinance 92-1779 on December 15, 1992 and shows the general land uses for portions of the MMNA south of Forest Avenue.

Community benefits and considerations related to this request are addressed in more detail in the attached Planning & Zoning Commission Staff Report, dated December 21, 2021.

Public hearings before the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council are conducted in conjunction with requests for a Concept Zoning Map Amendment.  In accordance with City Code, a notice of the public hearings was provided by placing an ad in the Arizona Daily Sun, posting at least one sign on the property, and mailing a notice to all property owners within 300 feet of the site and to the City’s “Registry of Persons and Groups.”  All notifications were completed at least 15 days prior to the first scheduled public hearing. A copy of the publication notice, pictures of the postings, a mailing list, and a copy of the mailing notice are included in the attached Public Participation Plan. 

The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on this application on January 12, 2022. The Commission recommended approval of the Concept Zoning Map Amendment by a unanimous vote (5-members present). Staff received 10 public comments (emails) prior to the Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting. All were in favor of the rezoning, and are attached to this staff summary. 

The City of Flagstaff Open Space program held two virtual neighborhood meetings about the proposed Concept Zoning Map Amendment on December 14, 2020, and January 13, 2021.  Per the meeting sign-in, approximately 38 individuals attended both meetings.  A Public Participation Plan, attached, was prepared in response to the questions, comments and concerns presented. The meetings included a presentation from the City of Flagstaff Open Space Program, a question-and-answer session where questions/comments could be typed into the chat or spoken, and a set of ten Community Forum Questions about the MMNA and if/how residents currently engage with the MMNA. 

Although not required by City Code, the Open Space Program also initiated a 60-day public comment period on the Flagstaff Community Forum to elicit feedback on the proposed rezoning. The comment period lasted from November 20, 2020 – February 2, 2021, and asked participants to provide feedback about the MMNA and if/how residents currently engage with the MMNA (these are the same ten questions asked at the end of each neighborhood meeting). The Community Forum had 127 attendees and 73 responses. The Open Space Program also received one written comment and five verbal comments in response to the Community Forum questions.