Coconino County Comprehensive Plan A Conservation-Based Comprehensive Planning Partnership From the “The Coconino County Comprehensive Plan serves as a roadmap for the future by Plan’s Forward establishing goals and policies to direct growth responsibly, solve problems, and improve the quality of life for county residents. … This plan is driven not only by the issues that citizens have identified as critical, but also by long-range goals based on our vision of the future.” Award Recognition 2003 Planning Award for Excellence — American Planning Association’s Small Town and Rural Planning Division 2003 Technical Publication Award for Excellence — Society for Technical Communication, Southwest Regional Publications, Art, and Online Competitions Praise for the “I especially appreciate the focus on preservation of our unique environment and the Comprehensive Plan inclusiveness of all the valued aspects of our county.” –Coconino County Resident “I’m proud to live in such a forward-thinking county! Great plan!” –Coconino County Resident “The plan is positive, proactive, and necessary. I applaud and commend those who prepared it. Excellent work!” –Coconino County Resident “I am very impressed with the … comprehensive plan. I am not speaking only about content or to the process you have outlined, but also to the way you have chosen to communicate this information to everyone.” –Candy Owens, Coconino County Recorder “The cross-references, quotes and notes, page numbers, and engaging writing style really add to the effectiveness of [the plan].” – Adjudicator for the Society for Technical Communication’s Southwest Regional Publications, Art, and Online Competitions “This plan meets and exceeds the requirements of Growing Smarter in almost all areas. Overall, it was a pleasure to review, as it contains innovative conservation planning techniques that will likely be used as a model for similar communities in years to come. It is clearly laid out, well written, and establishes a compelling purpose and vision that are followed by defined implementation policies. The plan is easily navigable to those unfamiliar with planning jargon. … The first chapters give the reader a clear sense of the purpose, background, and process that shaped this plan. [The plan] clearly gives the citizen reader the idea that he or she has a responsibility to be an active steward of the community’s future.” –Debra Z. Sydenham, AICP, Arizona Department of Commerce Community Planning Manager “An excellent model of a community plan.” – Adjudicator for the Society for Technical Communication’s Southwest Regional Publications, Art, and Online Competitions Coconino County Comprehensive On the Web @ http://co.coconino.az.us/partnership Plan The Coconino County Comprehensive Planning Partnership Coconino County Comprehensive Plan A Conservation-Based Comprehensive Planning Partnership Coconino County, Arizona Adopted September 23, 2003 Coconino County Arizona • The Comprehensive Plan The Comprehensive Planning Partnership Coconino County Community Development Department 2500 North Fort Valley Road, Building 1 Flagstaff, Arizona 86001 928.226.2700 or 1.800.559.9289 Project Development, Plan Review, & Approvals Comprehensive Planning Partnership project officially initiated January 11, 2002. Public review draft plan distributed May 29, 2003. Draft plan approved by the Comprehensive Planning Partnership Steering Committee June 10, 2003. Draft plan approved by the Coconino County Planning & Zoning Commission July 29, 2003. Final plan unanimously approved and adopted by Resolution 2003-63 of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors September 23, 2003. Plan Design & Publication This is a public document developed by staff of the Coconino County Community Development Department and others of the Comprehensive Planning Partnership. Rights of photos and graphics are retained by their original owner and may not be reproduced (other than general reproduction of this document) without express written permission of the owner. Any photo without expressed credit, is courtesy of Coconino County. The main front cover photo is by Grant Cooper. The map was produced by the Coconino County GIS Department. Credits for the other front cover photos (from left to right) include: John Aber; J. Ernest Jutte; John Aber; J. Ernest Jutte; Grant Cooper; and John Aber. Credits for back cover photos go to: Grant Cooper; Grant Cooper; John Aber; BLM; John Aber; and Coconino County. This document was designed and formatted by J. Ernest Jutte, AICP. The main body text is set in 11 point Garamond, a typeface named for the Frenchman Claude Garamond of the early 1500s. Major titles use Arial Black type. Century Gothic typeface is employed for subtitles, margin headers, and highlights. A Signature type is used for script drop characters. Original, full-color hardcopies of the Comprehensive Plan printed on Neenah “Environment” paper, 100% recycled post-consumer fiber, totally chlorine free. Printed in Phoenix, Arizona. The Plan on the Web Coconino County’s Partnership website: http://co.coconino.az.us/partnership i Foreword One of the most spectacular places on earth, Coconino County is home to the Grand Canyon, Vermilion Cliffs, San Francisco Peaks, and Oak Creek Canyon, among other unique natural features. Each year, it attracts millions of visitors and hundreds of new residents who are drawn to its welcoming communities and open spaces. Residents ex- press widespread satisfaction with Coconino County as a place to live; however, they also want to manage growth and development to ensure that the qualities they value are not destroyed in the process of accommodating change. This Coconino County Comprehensive Plan serves as a roadmap for the future by establishing goals and policies to direct growth responsibly, solve problems, and improve the quality of life for county residents. The Comprehensive Plan’s main objectives are to: • Preserve and promote stable, safe, attractive, rural communities where residents share a sense of pride. • Safeguard the choices residents expect for living, recreation, and circu- lation. • Coordinate strategies for economic development, transportation, and affordable housing so that we can better link the places where people work and live. • Protect our unique natural resources, ecosystems, and habitats. Not only will the Comprehensive Plan guide land use decisions, but it will also serve as a comprehensive reference and blueprint for community programs, as well as for public- and private-sector initiatives. This plan is driven not only by issues that residents have identified as critical, but also by long-range goals based on our vision of the future. ii Coconino County Arizona • The Comprehensive Plan Acknowledgments Comprehensive Planning Partnership Project Steering Committee Jim Arnold, Lake Powell Construction Mike Lainoff, Coconino Community College Steve Catanach, Arizona Public Service Mandy Metzger, The Diablo Trust Bill Cordasco, Babbitt Ranches Maggie Sacher, Lees Ferry Lodge Frank Dickens, Coldwell Banker Narico Shelley Silbert, The Nature Conservancy Bruce Fox, PhD, NAU Honors Program (subsequently with NAU’s Center for Sustainable Environments) Gene Waldrip, Coconino National Forest Chris Thurston, Red Feather Properties Rich Gorney, Bankers Real Estate Eunice Tso, ETD Consulting Chuck Hammersley, PhD, NAU Parks and Recreation Manage- ment Program Coconino County Board of Supervisors Matt Ryan, Chair, District 3 Liz Archuleta, District 2 Louise Yellowman, Vice Chair, District 5 Deb Hill, District 4 Paul Babbitt, District 1 Coconino County Planning & Zoning Commission Maggie Sacher, Chair, District 5 Janis Crosman, District 4 Celia Barotz, District 1 Cathy Flores, District 4 Mark Buzzard, District 3 Patty Garcia, District 2 Grant Cooper, District 2 Nancy Taylor, District 1 Project Coordinator J. Ernest Jutte, AICP, Coconino County Community Development Department Project Management Team Bill Towler, AICP, Director, Coconino County Community Development Department Angela Creedon, Arizona Public Service Cynthia Lovely, Coconino County Parks and Recreation Department Chris Newell, Grand Canyon Trust Jean Richmond-Bowman, Northern Arizona Building Association Coconino County Community Development Department Sue Pratt, AICP, Principal Planner John Aber, Senior Planner Tiffany Antol, AICP, Planner Acknowledgments • Coconino County Arizona iii Science Advisory Group Steve Gatewood, Private consultant Abe Springer, PhD, NAU Department of Geology Helen Fairley, Plateau Archeology Ethan Aumack, NAU Center of Environmental Sciences Interagency Workgroup & Partnership Agency Representatives Catherine Balzano, Arizona State Land Department Al Hendricks, Arizona State Land Department Jim Confer, Arizona Department of Transportation Bruce Higgins, Kaibab National Forest Katherine Farr, Coconino National Forest Michele James, Grand Canyon Trust Chris Fetzer, AICP, Northern Arizona Council of Governments Paul Whitefield, National Park Service Diana Hawks, Bureau of Land Management Arizona Strip Debbie Wright, Arizona Game & Fish Department Shaula Hedwall, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Project Funding Assistance Arizona Department of Commerce Grand Canyon Trust Arizona Department of Transportation National Park Service Arizona Public Service Special Project Assistance Joan Carstensen, Joan Carstensen Graphic Design (map graphics Lisa Malde, GIS intern (research and mapping) and photo management) Jackie Marlette, GIS intern (research and mapping) Steve Fluck, Grand Canyon Trust (data