Planning commission forwards Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan 2045 to supervisors after map change request

The Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6–2 on Dec. 3 to recommend that the board of supervisors adopt the Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan 2045 as a minor amendment to the county comprehensive plan, attaching a modification to the plan’s future-growth map requested by a commissioner.

Commissioner Shawn Williams moved that the commission forward PZAM25-003 to the board of supervisors with a modification changing several county parcels north of Schultz Pass Road from the plan’s yellow category to the surrounding pink designation; Commissioner Walsh seconded. Vice Chair Wilson and Commissioner Towhee recorded nay votes; the motion passed with six ayes.

Melissa Shaw, Coconino County long-range planner, told commissioners the Flagstaff regional plan update is a 10-year regional plan that covers the city of Flagstaff and surrounding unincorporated communities. Shaw said the update makes the plan parcel-specific, aligns regional priorities with the county’s newly adopted comprehensive plan and focuses on core priorities such as housing attainability, equity and climate action. She said the city of Flagstaff has already approved the plan and the county’s action is to decide whether to forward it as an amendment to the county plan.

Commission statements and public comments at the hearing focused on three topics: the accuracy and legal status of trails shown on the plan’s regional-trails layer; what measurable metrics will track progress on the plan’s goals; and how the plan defines "renewable energy." Mike Popejoy of Forest Hills Drive urged staff to correct remaining inaccuracies in the regional-trails map, saying it still shows some unauthorized trails and lines that "don't actually exist on the ground." Sarah Dechter, a county planner, and Shaw replied that the county updated the map, the State Land Department and Forest Service had reviewed versions of the map, and that a disclaimer will remain clarifying that depiction of trails on federal or state land does not imply authorization or legal access.

Vice Chair Wilson pressed staff about the plan’s energy language and whether it explicitly includes nuclear power. Shaw and Dechter said the regional plan’s renewable-energy language focuses on solar, wind and geothermal and follows federal definitions; they pointed to a policy (DP3) that can be used to address emerging technologies in the future. Wilson said he was disappointed nuclear is not specifically identified; staff replied the plan’s language and the DP3 catchall permit consideration of future changes.

Commissioners also asked about metrics and implementation. Shaw and Dechter said the regional plan includes action items and that Appendix A outlines annual reporting; staff noted the city previously tracked a larger set of metrics and that the regional plan narrowed reporting to a shorter list to make annual monitoring practical.

Shaw said the county will retain the existing 2013 regional plan until the board of supervisors takes action. With the commission’s recommendation now forwarded to the board, the board will hold its own public hearing before any final county adoption.

Outcome and next steps: the commission’s recommendation forwards PZAM25-003 to the board of supervisors for consideration with the modification to the future-growth map requested by Commissioner Williams. The board will set its own public hearing and decision schedule.