I would imagine the A/C is driven off a completely separate belt and pulley to the rest of the ancillaries.
If it is the belt tensioner compressor pipework and evaporator can be completely removed.
It'd needs to be professionally recovered of the refrigerant first though as highly illegal to vent to atmosphere.
The AC Compressor is driven by the front belt, the condensor sits infront of the standard rad, making its capacity a bit marginal. The heat exchanger sits inside the standard heater box so it takes in hot air from under the bonet. I suspect it needs a bit of fettling...
You are right about the CFC issue, but the rules in the USA are much less strict. they don't obsess about ozone depletors the way the EU does.
BTW did you know CFC fire extinguishers for aircraft are still legal in the EU? But you can't use them on the ground, only in the air. Go figure!
