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Friends of Flagstaff Future update for June 13

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In This Issue

  • Development News and Requested Actions
    • Write a Letter regarding the future of the St. Mary’s property on Humphreys
    • Attend the Hearing about the Vintage Development at the DMV
    • Attend tonight’s City Council work session about Zoning Code changes
  • Community Weed Removal and Clean up
    • Join us this Friday at 9 am at Foxglenn
Development News & Requested Actions!
Make Your Voice Heard about the St. Mary’s Property

As many of you are aware, the old St. Mary’s School lot is for sale. The property belongs not to the local parish, but to the Phoenix Diocese. The Diocese is entertaining several offers on the property. As they consider their options, we encourage F3 members to send a quick letter or email to the Diocese personnel letting them know how we would like to see downtown grow and what kind of infill is healthy and in the best interest of Flagstaff residents.
Here are a few points you might hit:
1. There is a great need in the city of Flagstaff for affordable housing.
2. We are quickly losing our sense of community in downtown Flagstaff.

3. The historic and spiritual epicenter of downtown Flagstaff, The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Chapel, is compromised by over-development of this property.

4. The David Babbitt House is an important piece of Flagstaff’s history and should not demolished and should, ideally, remain in close proximity to Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Chapel

5. The political climate in respect to downtown development in Flagstaff post-HUB is fraught and citizens’ sensitivity about development is at a peak.

To see F3’s letter to Bishop Olmsted click HERE

Here are the key players you can write to:

Diocese Building and Real Estate
Loretta Garcia                                                      John Minieri
400 E. Monroe                                                     400 E. Monroe
Phoenix, AZ 85004-2336                                   Phoenix, AZ 85004-2336
lgarcia@diocesephoenix.org                            jminieri@diocesephoenix.org
Diocese Clergy Flagstaff Clergy
The Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmstead      Fr. Patrick Mowrer
Diocese of Phoenix                                            1600 E Rte 66
400 E. Monroe St.                                                Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Phoenix, AZ 85004-2336                                   frmowrer@gmail.com
June 15, 6 to 8 pm:  Attend the Public Meeting about the “Mill Town” Zoning Change Request

Vintage Partners, a development company out of Phoenix, is requesting a zoning change for the current location of the Motor Vehicle Department and the former Fresquez homesite to the west that the city acquired for the University Road realignment and Beulah extension.
Along with the new roadways, Vintage would like to put in High Occupancy Dormitory Style (boarding house) buildings for approximately 1000 students, a 900 car parking garage and 48,000 Square Feet of commercial use on about 17 acres (that includes the new roadways). They are requesting a maximum building height of 95 feet.

They are holding two required public meetings.  Both are at the ADOT Training Facility at 1901 S. Milton 6-8 pm on Thursday June 15th and Monday June 26th. Vintage will make a presentation along with the City and ADOT.

There are many potential issues with this project including the building height, the scale, the impacts on traffic, utilities, water, viewsheds, the lack of diversity of the occupants, lack of affordable housing and the possible overbuilding of commercial uses.  City Council will need to approve the zoning change and the conditional use permit (required for a “boarding house” project) for the project to move forward.

If you have concerns, please come and express your thoughts.  This is the beginning of the public process where your views can have the most influence.
City Council Work Session: Tonight at Flag High, Hurley Theater, 400 W. Elm

At this very important meeting, city planning staff will be presenting their recommendations for zoning code changes. Staff was directed by council to make recommendations that would make the standards in the code reflect the intentions. Join Stand up for Flagstaff to lend your support to their efforts to remind Council how important the issue of preserving community character is to our community.
Community Weed Removal and Trash Pick-up
June 16, 9 am to 11 am: Another Chance to Remove Noxious Weeds from Foxglenn

To keep up our momentum, we are joining with the Arboretum again to remove weeds and pick up trash from the Foxglenn area. Please join us to beautify a special part of the Rio de Flag spillway. No experience with noxious weeds necessary!
Community Events
Find social justice, environmental, and other activism events on the This Community facebook page.