Alexandra Puccirelli, Flagstaff's planning manager, gave commissioners an overview of the city's Interdivision Staff (IDS) review process at the Nov. 19 meeting, describing how projects move from concept plan to site plan and permitting and what triggers heritage preservation review.

Puccirelli explained IDS as a coordinated review among multiple city divisions (planning, engineering, fire, traffic, heritage preservation) that occurs at several application stages. She said concept plan review gives early notice of potential issues, site plan review is when formal studies (including cultural resource studies) and conditions are typically required, and zoning map amendments often trigger more intensive analyses. She noted that structures or resources 50 years or older are flagged for cultural resource study under city code and that staff routinely reviews inventories, including material that becomes eligible for heritage review as properties age.

Commissioners asked about how demolition permits are handled and whether demolition can precede approval of replacement structures; staff said hazardous‑materials remediation and demo permitting are separate processes but that inventory and design reviews attempt to identify historic resources before demolition occurs. Puccirelli also reviewed the legal standard that conditions tied to discretionary rezonings must have nexus and be proportional to the development's impacts.

Staff updates: heritage staff reported completed grant payments (Flagstaff Christian Fellowship and Lumberjack Pizza projects) and outreach about available Route 66 and facade grants, and noted recent City Council appointments (vice chair Alicia Hayes reappointed; Alec Overman and Jeanne Stevens appointed to property owner seats). The commission was reminded to hold its annual chair and vice‑chair elections at the December meeting.

Commissioners requested clearer guidance for presentations (shorter applicant summaries, highlights and recommendations rather than reading wide swaths of the written report) so they can focus Q&A and save hearing time. Staff agreed to provide guidance to future presenters and to consider procedural recommendations for time allocation.