- Meeting Date:
- 05/05/2015
- From:
- Tiffany Antol, Planning Development Manager
Information
TITLE:
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
2) City Clerk reads Ordinance No. 2015-02 by title for the final time (if approved above)
3) Adopt Ordinance No. 2015-02
Executive Summary:
The City Council approved a preannexation agreement in January 2014 for the annexation of the three parcels subject to this request. This agreement allowed for the extension of necessary water and sewer infrastructure to serve potential future development of the W.L. Gore Woody Mountain campus which is located in both City of Flagstaff and Coconino County jurisdictions. Because this annexation surrounds rights-of-way under County jurisdiction it is proposed to include those rights-of-ways in this annexation to better serve future development of these sites. The Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of this annexation to the City Council on March 11, 2015.
Financial Impact:
The City of Flagstaff participated in the upsizing of a water line to serve the proposed annexation area as well as potential future growth. Final cost for the City has not yet been determined but is less than $325,000. W.L. Gore intends to construct a gravity sewer line to their site as well. The City has agreed to participate in the upsizing of this sewer line to serve future growth in the area. The City may also need to extend a portion of this line to serve the proposed Core Services Maintenance facility located at McAllister Ranch. Costs for the upsizing and extension were included in the utility rate study but official estimates have not yet been developed.
Connection to Council Goal and/or Regional Plan:
COUNCIL GOALS:
9) Foster relationships and maintain economic development commitment to partners
REGIONAL PLAN:
A full policy analysis of the goals and policies of the Regional Plan that relate this annexation can be found in the attached Planning & Zoning Commission Staff Report. Below are the goals that were included in that analysis
- Goal LU.2. Develop Flagstaff’s Greenfields in accordance with the Regional Plan and within the growth boundary.
- Goal LU.4. Balance housing and employment land uses with the preservation and protection of our unique natural and cultural setting.
- 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 LU.7. Provide for public services and infrastructure.
- Goal LU.8. Balance future growth with available water resources.
- Goal ED.3. Regional economic development partners support the start-up, retention, and expansion of existing business enterprises.
-
Goal E&C.6. Protect, restore and improve ecosystem health and maintain native plant and animal
community diversity across all land ownerships in the Flagstaff region.
Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This:
A second pre-annexation agreement was approved by Council in January 2014 for all three parcels subject to this annexation request. This pre-annexation agreement included approval for the upgrade and construction of a new water line along Route 66 and Flagstaff Ranch Road to improve fire flows and provide for future growth in this area.
The Public Hearing and first reading of the ordinance occurred at the April 7, 2015, Council meeting.
Options and Alternatives:
Background/History:
Two pre-annexation agreements have been approved for the subject properties. The first agreement was completed in 2005 for the construction of the facility on parcel 116-04-007F which allowed for the extension of the existing water and sewer lines from the other W.L. Gore facilities located within the city limits along W. Kiltie Lane. This pre-annexation agreement had a term of five years. In January 2014 a second pre-annexation agreement was completed that included all three parcels subject to this request. This agreement allowed for the extension and development of a new water line along W. Route 66 from Woody Mountain Road to Flagstaff Ranch Road and then along Flagstaff Ranch Road to W. Kiltie Lane creating a looped water system.
The most recent pre-annexation agreement was completed prior to the adoption and ratification of the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2030 (FRP 2030) and was approved based on compliance with the Flagstaff Area Regional Land Use and Transportation Plan (RLUTP). For comparison purposes, policies from both plans are identified and discussed in this report. The RLUTP designates the subject parcels as Office/Business – Park/Light Industrial and the FRP 2030 designates the subject parcels as Suburban/Future Employment. The Office/Business – Park/Light Industrial land use category is intended to encourage the development of offices and planned business parks; to promote excellence in the design and planning of buildings, outdoor spaces, and transportation facilities; and to continue the vitality and quality of life in adjacent residential neighborhoods. The Future Employment land use category includes Office – Research and Development – Business Park – Light Industrial, Light-Medium Industrial and Heavy Industrial. The Suburban land use category includes single-family residential and multi-family residential development, as well as commercial development such as strip centers and big box stores with large parking lots to a mixture of retail establishments, office buildings, automobile dealerships, gas stations, and motels.
The land use category designations originate from two different studies that considered the impacts and needs if the West Side was annexed into the City of Flagstaff. The first was completed in 1989 around the same time W.L. Gore annexed 50 acres in the 4000 Block of South Woody Mountain Road. An update was prepared to this plan in 1999 (West Side Small Area Plan and Infrastructure Study) which was incorporated into the 2001 Regional Land Use and Transportation Study. The plan includes a review and update of background information for the planning area, a generalized concept land use plan, infrastructure system plans, and a revenue/cost analysis update.
Key Considerations:
Community Benefits and Considerations:
Community benefits and considerations related to this request are addressed in more detail in the attached Planning and Zoning Commission Staff Report, dated February 25, 2015. A preannexation agreement approved in January 2014 allowed W.L. Gore to move forward extending a new water line along Route 66 from Woody Mountain Road, along Flagstaff Ranch Road to Kiltie Lane. The completion of this water line created the looped water system infrastructure necessary to provide adequate fire flows at the existing W.L. Gore facilities as well as for future development of their properties included in this annexation. Additionally, W.L. Gore intends to extend a gravity sewer line to service the subject properties as well as future growth in the surrounding area. The gravity sewer will allow W.L. Gore to abandon their existing lift station which is costly to maintain and operate.
Annexing these properties also provides for extended development opportunities to the largest private employer in the City of Flagstaff. The growth of their campus will allow for the expansion and retention of a significant employee base.
Community Involvement:
Public hearings before the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council are conducted in conjunction with any annexation request. In accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes, notice of the public hearing was provided by placing an ad in the Daily Sun, positing a notice on the public hearing, and mailing a notice to all property owners within 300 feet of the subject site. As of the writing of this report staff received one phone call requesting additional information about the annexation.
The Planning and Zoning Commission conducted a public hearing on March 11, 2015 at 4 p.m. No one from the public spoke on the case.
Expanded Options and Alternatives:
- (Recommended Action): The City Council may approve the Annexation as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission and staff by reading and adopting Ordinance No. 2015-02.
- The City Council may approve the Annexation with conditions of approval.
- The City Council may deny the Annexation.
Attachments
- P&Z Commission Staff Report
- Annexation Application
- Preannexation Agreement
- Notice of Annexation
- Concept Plan
- Zoning Boundaries
- Ord. 2015-02