By Suzanne Adams-Ockrassa | Arizona Daily Sun
Flagstaff City Council is moving cautiously on a rezoning request for a new student housing subdivision. Tuesday evening, Council voted unanimously to continue a public hearing on a rezoning request for Aspen Heights to its next regular meeting.
Aspen Heights wants to build 224 cottages and duplexes near the intersection of Route 66 and Woody Mountain Road that would house 714 college students. The project would also include 20KSF of retail store space.
In order to build the project, Aspen Heights has to annex three acres into the city limits and change the zoning from rural residential to highway commercial. It also has to change the zoning of 33 acres from rural residential to medium density residential.
Council was particularly concerned about the effect the project might have on the U.S. Naval Observatory, which is just over three miles away from the project. This is the first major housing project in a Zone One lighting area that Council has considered since it passed the city’s Dark Skies Ordinance (AZBEX, Oct. 3).
