From AmigosNAZ staff reports
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff City Council will consider a vote on a rezoning and annexation request for the proposed 700-student Aspen Heights project during its 6 p.m. meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 211 W. Aspen Ave, Flagstaff.
The project is located near the intersection of Route 66 and Woody Mountain Road.
Community residents opposed to the project packed the city council meeting of Nov. 4 for a nearly three hour public hearing, Friends of Flagstaff’s Future reported in a media release.
Opponents cited concerns about noise and nuisance, biker and pedestrian safety, dark skies and contradictions with the 2001 Regional Plan goals.
Click here for a summary of Friends of Flagstaff’s Future report of the meeting.
The organization is asking the community to submit the following sample letter to the City Council at council@flagstaffaz.gov:
Dear Council,
The Aspen Heights student housing development is not a good fit for the proposed location. I am concerned about the safety, health, and well being of our community should this project be approved. There is no safe biking or pedestrian accessibility to the site making it a serious safety concern. This project will also add significant traffic on route 66 as well as create parking issues in neighborhoods near NAU. The project jeopardizes our Dark Skies and poses a threat to our Observatories. Finally, being a student focused facility wild parties, elevated crime, noise, and nuisance will degrade the quality of life for nearby residents. Potential spill over to nearby open space will also degrade these natural environments and create fire risks. I urge you to vote NO on the rezone and annexation request.
Friends of Flagstaff’s Future reports that its comments to council and analysis of the Regional Plan can be viewed here.
“View our letter to the editor on our website and see the background check for the Aspen Heights company including links to articles from other communities,” the organization reported.
For more information, see the city council’s final agenda for the meeting of Nov. 18 and the Arizona Daily Sun’s story of Nov. 5: “Council vote on Aspen Heights delayed two weeks
Student housing projects, controversial growing
Student housing has become a controversial issue in Flagstaff in recent months, with a total of six student and multi-family housing projects in the pipeline.
The developer of the proposed “The Standard” 600-student project withdrew their proposal in July following community opposition to a plan to develop the multi-story housing project on the site of the Arrowhead Village Mobile Home Park in La Plaza Vieja.
On Nov. 5, the developer submitted a new concept plan omitting the mobile home park with development confined to property along Route 66.
As a result of the controversy, the city is currently holding a series of public meetings to update La Plaza Vieja Neighborhood Plan, with meetings scheduled for 6 p.m. on Jan. 21, 26 and 29 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 224 S Kendrick St.
The presentation, agenda and maps are available on the project website: http://www.flagstaff.az.gov/index.aspx?NID=3043