Northern Arizona Healthcare is requesting disqualification of a fall special election referendum over its master plan for a proposed hospital.
NAH filed a request with the Coconino County Superior Court to scrap the referendum, alleging the opponents’ petitions to gather signatures for the election contained misinformation about the project. Case law in Arizona requires referendums to be disqualified from the ballot if they contain false or misleading information about the issue under consideration.
NAH claims the petition did not mention the planned hospital and merely stated the project will construct retail and commercial space.
The first phase of the project will build a new 700KSF, $800M hospital facility near Fort Tuthill County Park. The zoning ordinance for that portion prohibits commercial and retail construction. The second phase would build residential units, a hotel and healthcare-centered retail and restaurants to support the overall NAH Health & Wellness Village.
After the Flagstaff City Council approved rezoning in May, the Flagstaff Community First opposition coalition set about collecting signatures to place the matter on the fall ballot as Proposition 480.
NAH claims the misinformation in the petition denied signers the opportunity to make correctly informed decisions about the referendum.
The Court has not yet set a hearing date, but the request will probably be considered in the coming weeks. (Source)