A Public Hearing/Neighborhood Meeting has been scheduled by Symmetry Companies, LLC to consider a Conditional Use Permit for a new private “golf course and related facilities” located northeast of the of the existing Pine Canyon Estates. This location is currently undeveloped land within the JW Powell Blvd extension area (see Location Maps below, as provided by the applicant). This meeting is required to be held before Symmetry can seek a Conditional Use Permit from the City of Flagstaff.
The May 15, 2025 application submitted by Symmetry for the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) states that the 20.87-acre tract of land is located within a future subdivision that may not require rezoning. The proposal is to develop a nine-hole, pitch-and-putt practice course meandering counterclockwise around the perimeter of the Property, and a small practice putting green located at the Property’s southeastern corner. The City requires the approval of a CUP to establish a golf course in areas zoned Rural Residential (RR).
The purpose of this public hearing/neighborhood meeting is for Symmetry to share information about the golf course and to answer questions. If you’d like to know more, the hearing/meeting will be held virtually via Zoom (see link below) at the date and time provided here:
The Requested Conditional Use Permit (CUP)
The City’s Zoning Code states that the purpose of a CUP is to provide a process for reviewing uses and activities that are permitted in the applicable zone but require more discretional review and the possible imposition to mitigate the effects on the proposal.
Requests for a CUP are heard only by the Flagstaff Planning and Zoning Commission which has the authority to make a final decision. This request will not be heard by the city council unless the Commission’s decision is appealed.
F3’s Evaluation of Findings
The Planning and Zoning Commission may grant the CUP only if certain findings can be made.
F3’s concerns with the development of a new private golf course relate to the use of valuable water and potential contamination of the C-aquifer
Symmetry indicates that their proposed nine hole golf course will not require the allocation of any additional reclaimed water over that which currently is provided to the adjacent nineteen-hole championship course located at the adjacent Pine Canyon Estates, where conservation measures have been shown to save 30% more water. It’s good to see that conservation measures are resulting in less water use, however concerns remain.
Reclaimed water in Flagstaff is set to become more valuable as our region experiences worsening climate change impacts including more droughts. F3 believes that the city’s reclaimed water needs to be used as a public resource to benefit the entire community, rather than sold for private use. Flagstaff’s reclaimed water, once it receives advanced treatment to remove an array of forever chemicals and pharmaceuticals, can be used to replenish Sinclair Wash, to safely recharge the C-aquifer, and eventually be used as a source of potable water.
Evaluation of a CUP requires determining that the proposed use will not be detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare. Allowing reclaimed water to be used for maintenance of a golf course should consider the public health and safety to residents of: a) release of reclaimed A+ water that has not undergone advanced treatment into the C-aquifer; and b) the use of future potable water for a private recreational amenity.
Evaluation of a CUP also includes determining if the use will be a hazard to persons due to contamination. Applying reclaimed water onto a golf course eventually will lead to contamination of our aquifer because Flagstaff’s A+ reclaimed water has been found to contain Contaminants of Emerging Concern.
Human-made “forever” chemicals such as those defined as PFAS, are known to be dangerous at extremely low levels (parts per trillion) in water, and some are known to bio-accumulate with the body. This means that even very small amounts of contamination of the aquifer could impact the residences of Flagstaff via “downstream” water flows in the aquifer that reach a city drinking water well.
Evaluation of a CUP additionally includes determining that the proposed use will be compatible with the surrounding area including the impact on public utilities. F3 believes that guaranteeing future water uses for golf courses will impact the availability of the water for our future needs as we adapt to the impacts of climate change on our region.
Additional Concerns
F3 assumes that the proposed subdivision and golf course will be a gated community just as the existing Pine Canyon Estates is. The gate serves as protection for the many second homes left unoccupied for extended periods. Flagstaff’s draft Regional Plan 2045 (60-day public review, 2024) includes policy that encourages inclusive and connected development patterns, and discourages gated communities (Policy DP.9, page 3-2). F3 believes this policy should be applied to all new developments, including greenfield developments.
F3 believes that greenfield development within Flagstaff’s Urban Growth Boundary should not include acreage that require irrigation, but rather housing for residents of Flagstaff and forested open space. F3 is concerned that the large landowners in the JW Powell area are not prioritizing the building of homes that are needed in our community to address our housing emergency. Symmetry is currently preparing a plan for the 405 acres they’re purchasing from the state of Arizona. F3 viewed Symmetry’s plan in late 2024 and it included the development of a full-size golf course, resort/hotel and commercial development, rental cabins, and residences as part of a larger development. Another gated community likely involves more luxury homes, many of which are sold for second homes.
Flagstaff has both a climate emergency and a housing affordability emergency. We do not have a crisis in the number of second homes or private golf courses. Symmetry’s planned development and Little America’s recent requests for a resort overlay on their lands to the east of Symmetry indicate that both are, as of now, making little effort to address Flagstaff’s declared emergencies.
We assume there will be time for questions during this virtual meeting, and there may be an opportunity to leave comments via Zoom’s chat feature. Let Symmetry know what you think about another private golf course in Flagstaff.
Keep an eye out for a future Action Alert from F3 providing information about when the Flagstaff Planning and Zoning Commission will be making a decision on Symmetry’s request for a CUP. Public input will be possible at that meeting.
Michele James
Executive Director
