The Process

Where We Are

Upon Council's adoption of the Plan, a special election was called for May 20, 2014. The Regional Plan will be the single issue on the mail-in ballot, and will be voted on by City residents. City staff will be doing extensive outreach and education about the Plan in the months before the election.

How We Got Here

The Flagstaff Regional Plan is the guiding policy document for the City of Flagstaff as required by state law. It is important that the Plan was created as a collaboration of Flagstaff citizens, public officials, and staff members, using an open planning process. 

Committees

A 19-member Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) was appointed by the Flagstaff City Council and Coconino County Board of Supervisors and met monthly or bimonthly for over four years to develop the vision, guiding principles, and goals and policies for each of the topics covered by this Plan. In addition, a Steering Committee composed of two Councilpersons and two Supervisors met quarterly to keep the process on track and make sure the public participation plan continued to be effective.

 A core planning team of City and County staff met regularly throughout the process to provide support to the CAC, draft sections of the Plan, and carry out all aspects of public participation. Hundreds of City and County residents provided important comments through open houses and focus groups, comments on the website, blogs, and surveys, which were crucial in defining the Plan's direction.

Prior to Document Adoption

Prior to City Council's adoption of the document, City and County Planning and Zoning Commissions were presented with the Public Hearing Draft and asked for input. City Commissioners recommended adoption of the Plan by City Council on October 23, 2013 with 41 suggested changes. 

Approval

The County Commissioners recommended adoption by County Supervisors on October 29, 2013 with no changes. On December 3, 2013 the County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the Plan.

The City and County chose to partner on the Regional Plan even though they were not required to do so by state mandate. The Plan addresses a wide variety of issues that do not end at the City's boundaries, therefore, incorporating the larger geographic perspective makes the Plan more meaningful and provides a tool for continuity in the way we grow as a region.

Origins & Process of Planning Document

To better understand the origins and process of this important planning document, take a look at the graphic:

The Planning Process


Citizen Advisory Committee

The CAC was comprised of 15 City and County residents appointed by the Council and Board of Supervisors to update the City's general plan, as is required by state law every 10 years. The CAC worked with City and County planners, Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization staff, consultants, and hundreds of citizens over a 4.5 year process to create the Flagstaff Regional Plan.

CAC Members

  • Ben Anderson
  • Paul Babbitt
  • Susan Bean
  • Carol Bousquet
  • Shaula Hedwall
  • Richard Henn
  • Maury Herman
  • Julie Leid
  • Judy Louks
  • Devonna McLaughlin
  • Jerome Naleski
  • Eva Putzova
  • Don Walters
  • Nat White
  • Alex Wright

August 2013 Public Hearing Draft

This Public Hearing Draft is the product of the CAC's efforts, which culminated in August 2013. The technical edits and other substantive changes made by the Planning and Zoning Commission and Councilmembers between September 2013 to January 2014 are not included in this PDF. View the entire August 2013 Public Hearing Draft (PDF).

Regional Plan Update Archives

There was an immense amount of agendas, meeting minutes, drafts, and reports posted onto the City's website as the Plan was written over the last 4.5 years. View all information posted prior to the August 2013 Public Hearing Draft.