Northern Arizona Healthcare has planned a state-of-the-art hospital to meet the needs of the growing population of Arizonans north of the Phoenix metro region. This November, voters in the city of Flagstaff will decide whether to allow the land NAH owns for the new hospital to be rezoned so the construction can proceed.
That’s what is on the ballot for city voters to decide: whether to rezone the privately-owned land for a hospital, ambulatory care center, parking and open space. This is Phase 1 of NAH’s overall development proposal.
NAH also has a Phase 2 of development planned. Phase 2 would include hotels, housing, retail, grocery, medical offices and space for medical research. Patients and their families often seek these amenities during or after a hospitalization. Each of these spaces would likely be developed and operated by a private owner, not NAH, even though NAH anticipates continuing to own the land itself, and ensuring the amenities align with its goal of promoting health and wellness. However, Phase 2 of NAH’s plan has not been approved and is not on the ballot in November.
Anyone trying to convince voters that the rest of the proposed Health and Wellness Village is at stake in the November vote is not well informed about the project, and is incorrect.
The Phase 1 hospital and the Phase 2 complimentary uses are separate zoning processes. Phase 1 – the hospital – is now on the ballot. Phase 2 is in early stages of review by city of Flagstaff staff, and has not yet been through public hearings of the Planning and Zoning Commission or the City Council. Phase 2 has not yet been considered or approved by those city entities.
A “Yes” vote on Proposition 480 will approve the City Council’s re-zoning of NAH’s land near I-17 and I-40, north of Fort Tuthill County Park, for the purpose of constructing a hospital, ambulatory care center and parking garage.
If voters do not approve the re-zoning in November, the land will remain slated for housing developments instead of a hospital. Those developments will not need additional approval via rezoning.
If voters do approve the zoning to permit the hospital to be built, they will have had no direct impact on the future consideration by the elected City Council on the Phase 2 re-zoning.
For more information on the new hospital, read:
Why the region needs a new hospital
How we’re staffing a new facility
How our project is 100% privately funded
Why more single rooms are needed to meet current care standards