By Elisha Dorfsmith

I have purposely avoided discussing the Hub student housing project and other projects like it on my blog because these projects do not really fit the focus of what my blog is all about. People can support or oppose different developments in the City and still be on the side of liberty. There are a lot of good pro/ con arguments out there on the Hub but I think it is finally time for me to step out of the sidelines and share my perspective.

The Hub is just the most recent in a long series of highly emotional and polarizing issues before the Flagstaff City Council. It is also one of the most misrepresented issues (intentionally or not) by local media, certain council members and activist groups voicing their opposition to the project.

Those yelling loudest would have people believe that voting against this project’s rezone will stop the development. I have been arguing with a lot of people on social media trying to explain to them that this is simply not the case. If a project is being built in a location it is already zoned for, the Flagstaff City Council has no say. City Staff look at criteria set in the Zoning Code and Regional Plan and if it meets that criteria, the development is a go. If people don’t like that, my argument has been to work to change the code and Regional Plan.

Last night Flagstaff Mayor Jerry Nabours issued a statement explaining the facts as they stand in very simple terms that everyone should be able to understand. Being able to cut through the emotions and focus strictly on the reality of a situation shows a clear head and is one of the things I really respect about Nabours.

Governing based on emotions makes for poor governance. Nabours has proven to be a rational thinker that considers much more than just feelings when he makes a decision. The Mayor’s stark contrast to his campaign rival Councilmember Coral Evans earns him my vote for a second term.

You can read the Mayor’s full statement on the Hub below:

“I had promised to post current issues and explain my point of view and votes. I want to share my insights into the background of last night’s Hub Vote:

Yesterday’s city council meeting ended with a vote that may have been confusing to anyone who may not have the full background.

I want to give some background: At the council meeting last night the city council was faced with two options:

(A) Option A would be for The Hub to build a 65 foot high apartment complex. They already have the zoning for that. They do not need city council approval;

(B) Option B would be for the Hub to get a partial zoning change that would allow them to build a much more attractive project. Option B was developed after months of meetings between Core and Flagstaff residents and city staff.

When the council met last evening to address the zoning request, there were only those two choices. We listened carefully to the hours of public comment and it became clear that the most of the public wanted council to deny ANY project. Not building anything was not a council option. This was explained several times by the city staff and the city attorney.

There was some argument that Core did not have the required zoning. The city attorney said they do. Bottom line is, Core can build on that property with or without a zoning change.

The regional plan was approved by the voters of Flagstaff in 2013. That plan specifically identifies this location as an urban activity center with high density housing and walk-able shopping and restaurants. The planning and Zoning commission voted 6-1 to recommend approval to the city council.

A zoning change would allow them to make the project more appealing (by everyone’s standards). It has allowed the city staff to sit down with them and ask for concessions . The project with the zone change will be less tall, have a bottom floor of retail shops and have more attractive facing and windows. Plus, the city is getting over $1 million in utility repairs and parking contributions from Core.

The vote of the four (Nabours, Oravits, Overton and Brewster) was a vote for the city to get the best possible product, given the circumstance that the city cannot outright disallow the project.

Evans, Barotz and Putzova’s vote was not a vote to stop the project, it was a vote to allow a less desirable project. Their “no” vote (to deny the rezoning) is to tell Core to go ahead and build the project under their current zoning, without any concessions.”