By Emery Cowan | Arizona Daily Sun
The water-related impacts of a massive development proposed near the town of Tusayan were a top concern for Flagstaff residents who attended a public comment session connected to the project on Wednesday night.
“Anything to do with water is key in this state,” Flagstaff resident Walt Taylor said. “With the amount of water this scale of project would be using, it couldn’t help but have an effect on the groundwater in the area.”
The Forest Service hosted the comment session as part of its environmental review of a road easement application submitted by the town of Tusayan last year. Gaining road access is crucial for the development to move forward on the two parcels, totalling about 350 acres. Without that approval, the town would not be able to pave roads or install utilities to serve the hundreds of homes as well as thousands of square feet of commercial space, lodging and visitor amenities that landowner Stilo Development Group has plans to build.
