Public Hearing, Consideration and Possible Adoption of Ordinance No. 2016-19:  An ordinance of the City Council of the City of Flagstaff, amending the Flagstaff Zoning Map to rezone approximately 477.8 acres of real property known as Picture Canyon, from No Zoning (County) and Rural Residential (RR) to Public Open Space (POS), and to apply the Landmarks Overlay (LO), the Resource Protection Overlay (RPO) and the Rural Floodplain Designation to approximately 77.8 acres. (Picture Canyon Zoning Map Amendment)

A Zoning Map Amendment request to rezone approximately 477.8 acres located in Section 4, Township 21 North, Range 8 East from No Zoning (County) and Rural Residential (RR) to Public Open Space (POS) and to apply the Landmarks Overlay (LO) Zone, the Resource Protection Overlay (RPO) Zone, and the Rural Floodplain designation to 77.8.

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

REGIONAL PLAN:
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.2. Preserve, restore, and rehabilitate heritage resources to better appreciate our culture.

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 a Zoning Map amendment to rezone approximately 477.8 acres known as the Picture Canyon Preserve and Archeological Park to the Public Open Space (POS) zone and apply the Landmarks Overlay (LO) zone, Resource Protection Overlay (RPO) zone and the Rural Floodplain designation to 77.8 acres currently located in Coconino County. 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 zones would be in addition to the proposed Public Open Space (POS) zone. The 400 acres currently located within the city limits already has the Landmark Overlay (LO) zone, Resource Protection Overlay (RPO) zones and Rural Floodplain designation applied.

With funding from the 2004 voter approved Open Space bond and a 2012 Growing Smarter Grant, the City of Flagstaff acquired Picture Canyon in October 2012 for the express purpose of preserving its unique historical, cultural, archeological, recreational, and educational resources. The canyon is an ecologically diverse riparian corridor and has a variety of native trees and plants. The area has many archeological resources which have been documented in a 2012 Archeological Survey by Northland Research, Inc. Existing logging railroad features on the property appear to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places which is sufficient for designation to the Landmarks Overlay (LO) zone. At its meeting of February 17, 2016 the City’s Heritage Preservation Commission reviewed this proposal and unanimously recommended that the City Council approve this rezoning request.

The primary purpose of this Zoning Map Amendment is to add layers of protection to the Picture Canyon Preserve and Archeological Park. Both properties will be zoned and regulated under the Public Open Space 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 Landmark Overlay zone will make the property subject to the Landmark Design Review Overlay District Design Standards and Guidelines and design review by the Heritage Preservation Commission. The Resource Protection Overlay provides additional standards for the protection of natural resources, including floodplains, steep slopes, and forest. The Rural Floodplain designation on the Rio de Flag floodplain boundaries further adds a level of protection to this property and supports the City of Flagstaff’s Community Rating System (CRS) ranking, which helps to lower flood insurance rates for everyone in the city.

On February 24, 2016, the Planning & Zoning Commission concluded their review of the proposed zoning map amendment with a recommendation for approval, by a unanimous vote.

Community benefits and considerations related to this Annexation request are addressed in the attached Planning & Zoning Commission staff report dated 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. One individual inquired about these applications affecting the management plans for Picture Canyon.