Flagstaff announces mail-only vote on Regional Plan 2045 with Question 492

Elsa Erling, an associate planner in comprehensive planning and a Flagstaff resident, told the Planning and Zoning Commission during open call that City of Flagstaff voters will decide whether to ratify the Regional Plan 2045 through Question 492.

Erling said the election will be held by mail for city residents only and that April 20 is the voter registration deadline while ballots must be returned by May 19. "If voters choose yes, the regional plan 2045 becomes effective immediately and replaces the current regional plan 2030. If voters choose no, the current plan stays in effect and the city will gather feedback and bring forward a revised plan in a later election," she said.

Why it matters: the regional plan sets the community's long-range policy guide for land use and growth, including policies on housing, transportation, economic development, climate action, natural resources and public safety. Erling emphasized that the plan provides unified policy direction and maps to guide city divisions and the county, but does not itself approve specific projects, change zoning or commit budgetary resources; those actions occur later through separate public processes.

Erling noted staff has held informal regional plan chats and encouraged commissioners and the public to attend outreach events, including a virtual session on April 30. She directed questions to staff planner Sarah Der and provided contact details on a handout distributed at the meeting.

Next steps: city voters will receive ballots by mail; the outcome of Question 492 will determine whether the 2045 plan replaces the 2030 plan immediately or whether staff will return with a revised plan and additional outreach. The announcement was made during the meeting's open-call public comment period.