Public Hearing, Consideration and Possible Adoption of Ordinance No. 2016-20: An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Flagstaff, Arizona, extending and increasing the corporate limits of the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, State of Arizona, pursuant to the provisions of Title 9, Chapter 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, by annexing certain land totaling approximately 640.51 acres located in Section 12, Township 21 North, Range 6 East, which land is contiguous to the existing corporate limits of the City of Flagstaff, and establishing city zoning for said land as Public Open Space (POS) for 640.51 acres. (Observatory Mesa Annexation)

1) Read Ordinance No. 2016-20 by title only for the final time
2) City Clerk reads Ordinance no. 2016-20 by title for the final time (if approved above)
3) Adopt Ordinance No. 2016-20

An annexation request of approximately 640.51 acres, which is part of the Observatory Mesa open space owned by the City of Flagstaff.

None

COUNCIL GOALS:
1) Continue to implement the Flagstaff Regional Plan and focus efforts on specific plans

REGIONAL PLAN:
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.

The Public Hearing and first read of this Ordinance was held on April 5, 2016.

1. Approve the ordinance as proposed.
2. Approve the ordinance with conditions.
3. Deny the ordinance.

The Applicant, the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program, on behalf of the property owner, the City of Flagstaff, is requesting an annexation of 640.51 acres, which is a part of Observatory Mesa. With funding from the 2004 voter approved Open Space bond, the City of Flagstaff acquired Observatory Mesa in November 2013 for the express purpose of preserving its unique recreational, educational and natural resources.

This annexation is the first of a three-step process. The second being a Regional Plan Amendment to change the Future Growth Illustration (Maps 21 and 22) from Area in White/State Land to Parks/Open Space. The third is a Zoning Map Amendment to add the Resource Protection Overlay (RPO) zone. Both amendment applications are being processed concurrently with this application but will not become effective until after the annexation has been completed.

State statutes only allow the City to adopt a zoning classification that permits densities and intensities no greater than those permitted by the County immediately before the annexation. Currently the property is zoned Open Space and Conservation (OS) in the County so the property will come into the City in the Public Open Space (POS) zone. A Regional Plan Amendment application to change the current designation on Maps 21 and 22 from Area in White/State Land to Parks/Open Space is proposed to support the existing zoning on the property as well as update ownership and city limits. A Zoning Map Amendment application to add the Resource Protection Overlay (RPO) zone is proposed to further the preservation of the property and its resources. The Regional Plan Amendment and Zoning Map Amendment applications will be considered subsequent to review of the annexation application.

Community benefits and considerations related to this Annexation request are addressed in the attached Planning & Zoning Commission staff report date February 12, 2016.

Inform, Consult, Involve, Collaborate, Empower

Public hearings before the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council are conducted in conjunction with requests for annexation. In accordance with State statute, notice of the public hearing was provided by placing an ad in the Daily Sun, posting notices on the property, and mailing a notice to all property owners within 600 feet of the site. The notices were also provided to the County Recorder, County Assessor, County Community Development Department, and the Chair of the Board of Supervisors.

All property owners within 600-feet of this site were notified via mail of the Annexation, Regional Plan, and Zoning Map Amendments and asked to attend the Open Space Commission meeting on October 22, 2015. Four individuals spoke at this meeting but none referenced any concerns with Observatory Mesa.