Thanks to council for rezoning vote

I was elated to see that the city council voted to deny the request by Texas developers to rezone the old Jeld-Wen property on Butler Avenue to allow for yet another mega student housing project.

The proposed project would have been completely out of our community character, and would have created many negative impacts. Additionally, the proposed project would have robbed Flagstaff of important economic development opportunities by removing property from already scarce industrial zoning. This community needs jobs, affordable housing and industrial development opportunities, not giveaways to outside development interests.

Thanks to Mayor Evans, Vice-Mayor Shimoni, and Councilmembers Jamie Whelan, Austin Aslan and Charlie Odegaard for safeguarding both our community character and liveability and for husbanding our industrial development opportunities. As to the naysayers, Councilmembers Jim McCarthy and Regina Salas, I can only hope you will re-evaluate your views on these issues and come more in line with the greater Flagstaff community, not just with the so-called greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, and outside investors and developers.

JAMES E. BABBITT

Share this:
Posted in Letters to the Editor and tagged , .