By Adrian Skabelund | AZ Daily Sun
Overwhelming opposition: that’s the common experience at public meetings in Flagstaff discussing newly proposed housing developments.
Standing before Flagstaff City Council or speaking to the Planning and Zoning Commission, neighbors will cite everything from increased traffic to a changing neighborhood character as reasons not to build.
It’s a phenomenon often referred to derogatorily as ‘NIMBYs,’ standing for ‘not in my back yard.’
But for the last year, during development hearings about projects such as Aura Flagstaff, Presidio condominiums and changes to city zoning, a new voice has begun making itself heard.
Sometimes describing themselves as YIMBYs (standing for ‘yes in my back yard’), many residents have begun making their own views heard at public meetings, expressing the need for new housing in the face of an affordability crisis.
The growing sentiment has come as part of an increasing trend in cities across the county as some residents push to build more housing.
