Members of the Flagstaff Zoning and Planning Commission listen to information from city staff, Landmark Properties and city residents during a meeting held June 25 at the Flagstaff City Hall. Photos by Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ ©2014
FLAGSTAFF — A zoning change for a proposed 650-student housing project — known as “The Standard” — at the Arrowhead Village Mobile Home Park was unanimously rejected on June 25 by the Flagstaff Zoning and Planning Commission.
The recommendation by the commission will be reviewed by the Flagstaff City Council during its next meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 1 at Flagstaff City Hall.
If the entire project is rejected by the city, the owner of the property has said he would still close down the mobile home park and sell the land, according to a story on June 26 in the Arizona Daily Sun — Owner: Trailer park off Blackbird Roost likely to close anyway
Commission members cited concerns with traffic, safety and other impacts to the residents of the Plaza Vieja neighborhood and city residents during the follow-up meeting held at the Flagstaff City Hall.
The meeting was a continuation of the regularly-scheduled June 11 meeting, which turned into a marathon six-hour public testimony session.
City staff, representatives from Landmark Properties and residents address the Flagstaff Zoning and Planning Commission during a meeting held June 25 at the Flagstaff City Hall. Photos by AmigosNAZ ©2014
The multi-story project proposed by Landmark Properties of Georgia would create a mixed-use student housing and retail development along Blackbird Roost Street and Route 66, but displace more than 100 residents in the 56-unit Arrowhead Village Mobile Home Park.
Residents of Plaza Vieja have opposed the project saying it does not fit into the look of the neighborhood, including the initial proposal for a five-story building on Blackbird Roost.
Opponents have also questioned the need for new off-campus student housing projects in Flagstaff after outgoing Northern Arizona University President John Haeger said on June 2 that he expects growth at the NAU campus to dramatically slow over the next few years.
Commission members cited existing traffic problems at the intersection Milton Road and Route 66, concern about safely creating crosswalks to accommodate the student residents of the development and traffic impact on neighboring streets as some of the reasons for rejecting the zoning change.
Representatives from Landmark Properties answered questions from members of the commission during the meeting.
Representatives from Landmark Properties, foreground, listen to questions from the Flagstaff Zoning and Planning Commission. Photos by AmigosNAZ ©2014
Developers have proposed moving the five-story, minimal-setback portion of the project to Route 66, working with the Arizona Department of Transportation on crosswalk options at Route 66 and installing “traffic calming” devices in the Plaza Vieja neighborhood in an effort to win approval from residents and city officials.
They have also proposed a series of financial compensation packages for both documented and undocumented owners of the trailers at the park.
During the commission meeting developers also said they could look at a suggestion by a commission member to relocate the student parking structure closer to Route 66 to minimize the traffic impact on the Plaza Vieja neighborhood.
July 1, 2 Flagstaff City Council meeting
The Flagstaff City Council will hold a public hearing on the student housing project at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 1 at the Flagstaff City Council. The council will immediately begin taking public comment on the issue at that time until 9:30 p.m. The council will then continue the meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2.
Click here for more information from the City of Flagstaff or here for information from Friends of Flagstaff’s Future.