Public Hearing, Consideration and Possible Adoption of Ordinance No. 2016-21:  An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Flagstaff, amending the Flagstaff Zoning Map to rezone approximately 1610.69 acres of real property located on Observatory Mesa, from Rural Residential ("RR") to Public Open Space ("POS"), and approximately 2.0 acres from Rural Residential ("RR") to Public Facility ("PF") and to apply the Resource Protection Overlay ("RPO") to approximately 640.51 acres. (Observatory Mesa Zoning Map Amendment)

1)  Read Ordinance No. 2016-21 by title only for the final time
2)  City Clerk reads Ordinance no. 2016-21 by title for the final time (if approved above)
3)  Adopt Ordinance No. 2016-21

A Zoning Map Amendment request to rezone approximately 1610.69 acres located on Observatory Mesa from Rural Residential (RR) to Public Open Space (POS), approximately 2.00 acres from Rural Residential (RR) to Public Facility (PF) and to apply the Resource Protection Overlay (RPO) to approximately 640.51 acres.

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COUNCIL GOALS:
1) Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics
2) Continue to implement the Flagstaff Regional Plan and focus efforts on specific plans

REGIONAL PLAN:
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.
Goal E&C.7. Give special consideration to environmentally sensitive lands in the development design and review process.
Goal OS.1. The region has a system of open lands, such as undeveloped natural areas, wildlife corridors and habitat areas, trails, access to public lands, and greenways to support the natural environment that sustains our quality of life, cultural heritage, and ecosystem health.
Goal CC.1. Reflect and respect the region’s natural setting and dramatic views in the built environment.
Goal REC.1. Maintain and grow the region’s healthy system of convenient and accessible parks, recreation facilities, and trails.

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

1.  Approve the ordinance with the proposed condition.
2.  Approve the ordinance with no conditions, additional conditions or modified 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 a Zoning Map amendment to rezone approximately 1610.69 acres known as Observatory Mesa to the Public Open Space (POS), approximately 2.00 acres to Public Facility (PF) and add the Resource Protection Overlay (RPO) zone to approximately 640.51. An overlay zone is a special zoning district placed over an existing zoning district, part of a district, or a combination of districts. Overlay zones build on the underlying zoning, by establishing additional requirements. In this case, the overlay zone would be in addition to the Public Open Space (POS) zone. Approximately 1612.69 acres of Observatory Mesa already have the Resource Protection Overlay (RPO) zone applied.

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.

The primary purpose of this Zoning Map Amendment is to add layers of protection to Observatory Mesa. The majority of the properties will be zoned and regulated under the Public Open Space (POS) zoning, which is intended to be applied to areas of the City that are appropriate for designation as public open space to allow for resource protection and passive recreation uses. The two acres that will be rezoned to Public Facility (PF) currently consists of a tank farm maintained by the Utilities Division, which would not be a permitted use in the Public Open Space (POS) zone.

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 Zoning Map Amendment. 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.

All property owners within 600-feet of this site were notified via mail of the zoning map amendment and annexation and asked to attend the Open Space Commission meeting on October 22, 2015.