By BEX Staff for AZBEX
Despite the fact that plans for the Northern Arizona Healthcare Health and Wellness Village were first announced more than two years ago, a coalition of concerned residents and more than 25 community organizations have formed to oppose the proposal, alleging the City of Flagstaff does not have enough information about the project’s social, environmental or economic impacts.
Flagstaff City Council unanimously approved the Phase I specific plan for the Flagstaff Medical Center, as well as the required zoning map amendments and development agreement, in its June 6 meeting. One Councilmember was absent. The requests were approved in a first reading last month.
The Flagstaff Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended denial in April, citing concerns over project funding, sustainability and carbon neutrality.
The plan originally started as an upgrade to the existing hospital. When planners realized that would not be sufficient to meet the needs of a regional hospital in a growing region, NAH switched to a plan to develop the new 172-acre site and to replace the current FMC, building a new Ambulatory Care Center and ultimately creating an entire Health and Wellness Village campus.
The opposition coalition, which calls itself “Flagstaff Community First,” is holding demonstrations and petition drives to force the rezoning to a voter referendum. The group has until July 7 to collect the thousands of signatures needed.
On June 20, Council is scheduled to discuss possibly authorizing a special election that could include the rezoning and referendum along with changes to the City charter that will require voter approval.
