Integrating Communities within Natural Space

by Robert Wallace, City of Flagstaff

Flagstaff, Arizona exists in a beautiful setting—clear blue skies and pine trees as far as the eye can see, cinder cones, hidden canyons and quaking aspens. This setting creates a unique sense of place in this northern Arizona mountain town. Residents of Flagstaff enjoy recreational opportunities within this oasis of green rising above the surrounding deserts. Although the forest dominates the landscape, the scene changes to busy streets, bike lanes, shopping centers, school playgrounds and residential neighborhoods as you approach the city center. The city of Flagstaff is working to ensure that the careful balance between urban development and natural space is maintained as our community continues to grow and change.

Flagstaff residents recognize that open space within the city limits contributes to their desired quality of life. For decades, community members and local organizations advocated for preserving the greater McMillan Mesa area. McMillan Mesa is located in central Flagstaff and consists of the 215-acre Buffalo Park, as well as several residential neighborhoods, and a handful of commercial, governmental, and institutional uses. It also includes 300+ acres of land owned by the City of Flagstaff. Through the years, various agencies proposed plans and concepts for this land, but no consensus about its primary use was determined. That is, until a citizens initiative was able to obtain enough signatures to place a proposition on the ballot. On November 8, 2016, approximately 86% of Flagstaff voters voted in favor of Proposition 413 – Campaign for a Greater Buffalo Park, preserving around 300 acres of city-owned property on McMillan Mesa for public open space and passive recreation. City leadership collaborated on efforts to protect the area in 2018 with the McMillan Mesa Natural Area Major Plan Amendment to the city's Regional Plan. This Amendment changed the Future Growth Illustration Map in the Regional Plan by replacing existing suburban, employment, and uncategorized areas with more than 300 acres of open space. It also removed a future access road that would have bisected the Natural Area.

The Flagstaff Urban Trail at the McMillan Mesa Natural Area

As of early 2021, the city is proposing to align the zoning of the McMillan Mesa Natural Area with the Regional Plan and Proposition 413. The city’s Open Space Program is pursuing a Zoning Map Amendment to rezone the 10 parcels comprising the Natural Area to Public Open Space from their current varied zoning of Rural Residential and Public Facilities. This will make the properties’ zoning consistent with the Regional Plan and other city guiding documents, and will allow for better management and oversight of the Natural Area. The Open Space Program has already held two neighborhood meetings and opened a 60-day virtual comment period to solicit public input on the proposed rezoning, and to better understand how people currently use the area. Next steps include a new legal description for the Natural Area, completion of a cultural survey documenting historic and prehistoric archaeological resources, additional city staff review of the rezoning application, a public hearing with the Planning & Zoning Commission, and City Council review and decision.

McMillan Mesa Natural Area Located in Flagstaff, Arizona

The successful preservation of the McMillan Mesa Natural Area will provide surrounding neighborhoods with accessible natural outdoor opportunities in perpetuity. Time in nature is proven to enhance physical and mental health. These spaces also provide critical habitat to native plants and animals and sustain ecosystem services that are critical to the health of the environment. These many functions of open space underscore the importance of cautious planning. Once these spaces are lost, they are nearly irretrievable. Though we are lucky that our city is surrounded by the mountains and forests of northern Arizona, it is the wonder of seeing nature every day—within Flagstaff—that makes open space preservation so special and essential. Nature needs to be close to where we all live: on our properties, on our blocks, and in our neighborhoods. The Open Space Program exists to ensure that natural spaces like McMillan Mesa are protected and maintained for the benefit of our residents and local ecosystem alike. These goals are outlined in more detail in the Flagstaff Area Open Spaces and Greenways Plan, which sets the ambitious goal of providing every resident access to open space within a 15 minute (1/4 mile) walk from their home.

With deliberate thought and community involvement, we can ensure that wild spaces are a part of the everyday human experience. Community design that incorporates open spaces and recreation areas has a positive effect on both community health and on the local economy. We are lucky to live in a community that makes integrated natural space a priority in our long-term planning efforts.

Visionary Flagstaff Arizona Interconnected and Integrated Open Space System

Robert Wallace is an Open Space Specialist with the City of Flagstaff.