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Coconino County draft plan draws debate over tourism, rural industries and housing
Summary
County staff presented the draft "Resilient Economies + Housing" chapter; participants pressed for stronger language on supporting ranching, forestry and local production, asked for clearer housing definitions and flagged short-term rentals and second homes as drivers of local housing costs.
Coconino County staff and community members spent the meeting reviewing the draft Resilient Economies + Housing chapter of the county’s comprehensive plan, focusing debate on tourism’s economic dominance, support for ranching and forest-based industries, workforce retention and housing affordability. John Solstol, the economic development director of Coconino County, and county planning staff summarized the chapter and solicited edits and policy priorities.
The discussion centered on three themes: (1) tourism and second homes vs. local production, (2) rural economies and natural-resource industries, and (3) housing policy and tools. Several participants urged the county to more explicitly recognize and support production industries—ranching, timber and native-plant-based enterprises—alongside tourism, which many said dominates local employment and land-use pressures.
Why it matters: participants said the chapter will guide policy and land-use decisions that affect housing supply, workforce retention and management of large private and public lands. Multiple speakers warned that an economy…
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