The Flagstaff City Council has approved a zoning change that would allow for housing development within the public facilities zone.
Flagstaff declared a housing emergency in 2020 and created a 10-year Housing Plan to address it. The plan components have experienced extensive public discussion, but little development has taken place for either affordable or market rate housing. The zoning change is intended to facilitate affordable housing approvals and construction.
There are approximately 180 parcels currently zoned as public facilities. Most were originally intended for government buildings, parks and infrastructure. The City owns roughly 40% of the public facilities-zoned land. Northern Arizona University owns 29% but is not required to follow Flagstaff zoning policies.
Other owners include the Flagstaff Unified School District, Coconino County and a variety of semi-public entities. Only 10% of the land is in the hands of private owners.
The zoning policy proposal generated a great deal of public comment, and a conditional use permit requirement was included to ensure proposed projects would still be subject to review by the Planning and Zoning Commission and, possibly, City Council.
Some opponents still felt the CUP requirement was insufficient to allow for an acceptable degree of “neighborhood input.” One factor that has stalemated repeated attempts to develop housing at any price point in Flagstaff has been community opposition, and residents speaking against the zoning change said they wanted to ensure the public’s voice was still heard.
Opponents also sought to ensure the change would not imperil local parks. Council passed a resolution stating that the change was not meant as a path to park redevelopment and was meant to increase housing affordability by making housing construction easier. (Source)