[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6461627,"mediaKeyId","5823853-48dcd6a0d5765b9886bd4761626afd5c","parentId",5823853,"title","Coconino County board affirms hearing officer in Church of the Common Good code-enforcement appeal","audioSeconds",747,"startMs",2779000,"endMs",3526000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823853-48dcd6a0d5765b9886bd4761626afd5c&start=2779&end=3526","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823853-48dcd6a0d5765b9886bd4761626afd5c/thumbnail_2779000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6461627/Coconino-County/Arizona/Coconino-County-board-affirms-hearing-officer-in-Church-of-the-Common-Good-code-enforcement-appeal","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461627-13755a970b27d0880d0bb858974a8db3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011156&Signature=WFKpNMoJwkgTRmCRc4RCHGcoPtFVx8WmvleluJ0Pfdu5-QhUhXb~Gp8BlEOsTmK~hhGyrEelQ~Ag4XfCd2i-cWzbrUl~9jLiuBviJi59fyEIlPGJhjodO8cX8-A0k8Y07OpNfu32p9WnGBrc36OvbcYANVnFjEZNtmuFd4eaJbjvWx9WNF3F-tMifsnnH6bigLDmhhtOGhBQKeArpCbHYHBMq62uE1K23UUyNykkEMDfziEQ~MexnK-6l5hohKGtKw4aeK3R6dpJOayweU7RwoZt6btkBrUoLuuST4N1S~BEwcQFPJH4UoGz-beUx~HR7IaHH5wXhziiWdkeP5D3nQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Coconino County","date","2025-09-24T12:06:25.933Z","article","The Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously affirmed a hearing officer's decision on Sept. 23, 2025, finding that the Church of the Common Good was responsible for zoning violations at a property on BNSFRR Road and upholding sanctions and a 30-day compliance deadline set by the hearing officer.

The decision matters because the appellant argued the county's enforcement imposed a substantial burden on its religious exercise and invoked the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). The board concluded the hearing officer's findings were supported by substantial evidence and that the officer did not abuse his discretion.

Pastor Andrew Stevens, representing the Church of the Common Good, told the board the property had been bought under a land contract in July 2020 during COVID-era closures and that inspections and enforcement actions occurred before the church formally owned the parcel. Stevens said the site is used as a religious retreat and shelter for itinerant missionaries and argued the county's enforcement would force costly infrastructure changes that would undermine their ministry. \"This is not merely a land use dispute. This is a matter of religious liberty,\" Stevens said.

Mark Stento, compliance manager for Coconino County Community Development, summarized the county's record and evidence. \"This case is straightforward,\" Stento told the board, noting inspections over an eight-month period documented occupied RVs, makeshift dwellings, and outdoor storage of refuse and inoperable vehicles. Stento said the hearing officer made credibility determinations after reviewing photographs, testimony and exhibits and that the county's ordinance bars RV habitation and outdoor storage of refuse and unregistered vehicles on G-zoned parcels without proper permits.

Community Development staff emphasized the county had provided multiple notices and opportunities to correct the violations and that the hearing officer's order allowed a compliance period and modest civil sanctions in the event of noncompliance. Stento told the board no fines had been applied because the property had appealed before any sanction hearing.

Board members deliberated under the limited standard of review for appeals of enforcement actions: whether the hearing officer abused his discretion, made an error of law, or lacked substantial evidence. Rose Winkler, attorney to the Board of Supervisors, explained that the board's role was to review the hearing record and not re-weigh the evidence.

Supervisors said they reviewed the full record, the exhibits and hearing transcript. Supervisor Tammy Ontiveros moved to find that the hearing officer did not abuse his discretion; Supervisor Judy B. Horstman seconded the motion. During discussion, Horstman said she found substantial evidence in the record and that the zoning protections serve compelling health, safety and welfare interests. Other supervisors expressed similar reasons for supporting the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

The board's action affirms the hearing officer's order; the case file and the hearing officer's findings remain the operative enforcement action. The board also noted the county's zoning ordinance applies equally to religious and secular landowners and that the order did not prohibit worship or ministry but required compliance with neutral, generally applicable land-use rules.

Next steps: the affirmed order remains in place and the county may resume enforcement procedures if compliance does not occur under the timelines and conditions set by the hearing officer and the county's enforcement process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6:00 p.m. September 23, 2025 Board of Supervisors Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Board of Supervisors unanimously upheld a hearing officer's order finding zoning violations at the Church of the Common Good property, rejecting the church's claim that enforcement violated federal religious-land-use protections.","taxTitle","Coconino County, Arizona","taxId",2575,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6461614,"At-a-glance: Coconino County board approves proclamation, liquor-license recommendations, RFQ award and consent items",1572,278000,1850000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823853-48dcd6a0d5765b9886bd4761626afd5c&start=278&end=1850","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823853-48dcd6a0d5765b9886bd4761626afd5c/thumbnail_278000.jpg","/articles/6461614/Coconino-County/Arizona/At-a-glance-Coconino-County-board-approves-proclamation-liquor-license-recommendations-RFQ-award-and-consent-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461614-390ccb465d24afabfccb7838b50b9f41/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011156&Signature=EDRa15x-4Jcj222nb3ondd2fQZ3dYOuno2d-tFQD6c-mC9UhwVkwMtdYC36JkXvlopNiqTO4Ho2Q~vALJZx84W7O36u2O6DPSJTrP01k~-AZh43b3N67VeolvVG8FoNnhJG4A0VXQwPI3nJFsNo2jWX~crOFDmpnLcIjvoXUQ~01vTSHKRNldQ~fmHe7oTMGHD~EXxLu3fbtkxg6w5opzj5UBAiXD7XZcLsORhKBDYNoO9ALAL-e53t491veDJYTYnK260nNYFV67rmJwOMRAYZ5wBTcagpZo6ei2IfBR-bF5tXsV3OUvUTzVNDrv-X~xxZbGHkH0eZkEJdRwe86Og__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Coconino County Board of Supervisors took several routine and near-routine actions on Sept. 23, 2025. All votes below passed unanimously unless otherwise noted.

Votes at a glance

- Proclamation: The board approved a proclamation designating Sept. 27, 2025, as National Public Lands Day in Coconino County. Cynthia Nemeth, parks and recreation director, read the proclamation noting the county's forests, monuments and the recent Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires; the board urged support for recovery of affected infrastructure. Motion to approve: Supervisor Horstman; second: Supervisor Fowler. Outcome: approved unanimously.

- Liquor-license recommendations to Arizona Department of Liquor Licenses and Control: The board recommended approval of two state liquor-license applications:
- Application #354514: series 012 (restaurant liquor license) for 2 Bar 3 Cafe and Saloon, 5877 Loop Road, Flagstaff (agent Deanna Jordan). Public hearing opened and closed with no public comment; motion by Supervisor Ontiveros, second by Supervisor Begay. Outcome: recommend approval to state.
- Application #353788: series 010 (beer and wine store) for Grand Canyon KOA, 5333 N. Highway 64, Williams (agent Kathy Masson). Public hearing opened and closed with no public comment; motion by Supervisor Ontiveros, second by Supervisor Begay. Outcome: recommend approval to state.

- RFQ award (item 23): The board awarded RFQ 2025-105 to Natural Channel Design, Inc. and approved an agreement with the Coconino County Flood Control District for post-wildfire flood-mitigation engineering in the Pipeline Fire area through Sept. 9, 2030. Motion by Supervisor Horstman; second by Supervisor Begay. Outcome: approved unanimously.

- Library District purchase (consent): Directors approved purchase of a custom bookmobile from Farber Specialty Vehicles under Omnia Partners contract 177,718 in an amount not to exceed $525,138.76. Motion by Director Begay; second by Director Ontiveros. Outcome: approved unanimously.

- Consent and district items: The board approved consent agenda items 2 through 21 (with item 22 pulled for separate discussion), resolved into and out of various district boards (Library District, Health District), and approved health district consent items 25 through 27. Outcome: approved unanimously.

Notes: Several items were brief or informational and drew limited public comment. Two public hearings for liquor-license recommendations had the applicants present and no public opposition was recorded. The county clerk reported no public comments submitted online for those hearings.

Motions and procedural notes were entered on the record; all items above passed by unanimous voice vote with no recorded dissents.","On Sept. 23 the board approved a proclamation for National Public Lands Day, recommended two liquor-license applications to the state, awarded an RFQ for post-wildfire flood mitigation, purchased a library bookmobile, and approved routine consent and health-district items.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6461618,"Supervisors approve nearly $300,000 Arizona State Parks grant for Lake Powell rescue equipment",110,1169000,1279000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823853-48dcd6a0d5765b9886bd4761626afd5c&start=1169&end=1279","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823853-48dcd6a0d5765b9886bd4761626afd5c/thumbnail_1169000.jpg","/articles/6461618/Coconino-County/Arizona/Supervisors-approve-nearly-300000-Arizona-State-Parks-grant-for-Lake-Powell-rescue-equipment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461618-c7ab5234821191df3767483f58225fad/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011156&Signature=OdhrYsuXXSYlvRboO47~z4-YBt8atqCrfs0H-yWZ99YUjt1~aTbwsjY2uru5Mjix9mqaX4tmFFKqTnByNq0PRH8MHv7FJt7-BCw1X9cqSi2RJkvQXSQU~A2y2CAOwj9KLMxMElwRaa7n5iVSFob8Z~tIBFvMaWbJLzndLgqZ6DJwyUpWMtdnUK2KyeD9hmV7jzVup8KQe7aYQQ8J6jnZBaIH3ZDhdLpe9AXuj33Q~oYWXAGy76AoSaDw~4VQnLNZSYsAcK~LbQ0G3xtXi4GiABZoWmrfpwc7fWnHy3EgGwf9UUNHPlhAP9px31VAGBLDyvxO0p96CL-RJbMMeL41hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Coconino County supervisors on Sept. 23, 2025, approved a fiscal-year 2026 budget adjustment to accept an Arizona State Parks project sponsor agreement of $299,091.19 to support the county's Lake Powell law-enforcement and rescue boating program.

Supervisor Fowler, who requested the item be separated from the consent agenda, said the equipment will give the sheriff's office added capability for search, rescue and recovery operations at Lake Powell. County staff described the purchase as a submersible remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with lighting and night-vision equipment plus medical supplies for the county sheriff's boat patrol.

\"Lake Powell can be hundreds of feet\" deep in places, County Manager Andy Bertelsen said during the item introduction, and the ROV allows searches at greater depths. Parks and emergency-service staff told supervisors the county recently used similar equipment in a recovery operation and that owning the ROV and night-vision gear will reduce recurring rental costs when conducting night operations or deep-water searches.

Supervisor Fowler said night-vision equipment is \"really important\" for night searches and that relying on rentals from other counties was costly; having county-owned equipment will save money and increase readiness.

The motion to approve the budget adjustment and accept the grant was offered by Supervisor Fowler and seconded by Supervisor Tammy Ontiveros. The board voted unanimously to approve the agreement and related budget action.

Details: the award is an Arizona State Parks project-sponsor agreement (project number 7802504; amount $299,091.19). The county indicated the purchase will include a submersible ROV, night-vision equipment and medical supplies to continue law-enforcement and emergency rescue boating operations on Lake Powell. Staff noted the equipment had been demonstrated recently to county staff and the sheriff's office.

Next steps: County procurement and the sheriff's office will process the purchase under the grant terms and the approved budget adjustment.","Coconino County accepted a $299,091.19 Arizona State Parks grant to buy a submersible remotely operated vehicle, night-vision equipment and medical supplies for the sheriff's Lake Powell rescue and law-enforcement boating program.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6461623,"Board approves 38-lot Diablo Canyon preliminary plat with two-thirds protected as open space",598,4205000,4803000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5823853-48dcd6a0d5765b9886bd4761626afd5c&start=4205&end=4803","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5823853-48dcd6a0d5765b9886bd4761626afd5c/thumbnail_4205000.jpg","/articles/6461623/Coconino-County/Arizona/Board-approves-38-lot-Diablo-Canyon-preliminary-plat-with-two-thirds-protected-as-open-space","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461623-972f27cc9a71090b230ecdbf24f1bb45/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011156&Signature=XjffrFkyryZw0rvXhvWHsIvXH1PYZlKc1xAuiXcCjbm9vp8sdJVzXvNo6gud4mC5MDp8iGS8CswiOFhuloZVz4~2tsI15H7DMe-63mQmmQGdkpBtpIjGTcjYGDwpvmjuW8a1ZZKn0yvZi22JYLKVPDdBBEKXQ7~mCF6jY1wvbgg31qkc8TwDcGJaUpS~0VnvDBqYIsesUqrTNFqvkqVoX9NeM6XociN0HtMZw1qOelBVEeM5SizUuHE9iegOoyeppOj98zwwJ3U8roFaegciWapH7zqfvL1zbat8r14Tz3hichK~qb0i1toB4hcEJ~VEx0kpB3VxT75Skf2wVy8GMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-53 on Sept. 23, 2025, approving a preliminary plat for a 38-lot subdivision on roughly 334.89 acres about 1.5 miles northeast of New Mormon Lake.

The project, dubbed the Diablo Canyon subdivision, clusters 38 lots on the eastern edge of the property and designates nearly two-thirds of the acreage as protected open space with public trails, water features and preserved meadows. The action implements incentives in the county subdivision ordinance that allow density bonuses in exchange for conservation-focused designs.

Jess McNeely, deputy director of the Community Development Department, described the site and staff's analysis: utilities will include APS electricity; the development will be a hold-water subdivision (lots will not be on a community water system) and all lots will use on-site wastewater systems. The proposal includes private internal roads and annexation into the Mormon Lake Fire District for emergency services. McNeely said the design protects environmentally sensitive features such as large trees, rock outcroppings and several stock tanks used by wildlife and that Arizona Game and Fish offered recommended mitigations, including wildlife-friendly fencing and construction-season restrictions.

McNeely said the applicant used the county's cluster-conservation incentives to reduce lot sizes to a minimum of 2.5 acres and secure the open-space dedication; without clustering the g-zone density would have yielded 33 lots instead of 38. The planning and zoning commission reviewed the proposal and forwarded a unanimous recommendation of approval to the board.

Supervisor Judy B. Horstman praised the conservation design and said she hopes to see the clustered approach used more widely. Supervisor Tammy Ontiveros, who said she reviewed the packet and the commission's findings, moved to adopt the resolution; Supervisor Horstman seconded the motion. The board voted unanimously to approve the preliminary plat.

The vote approves the preliminary plat only; the developer must return with a final plat in substantial conformance with the approved preliminary design. Staff noted the subdivision will be subject to specific conditions listed in Resolution 2025-53, including protection of environmentally sensitive features, wildlife best-practices recommended by Arizona Game and Fish, and requirements for emergency access and private road maintenance.

Project proponents told the board they agree with staff recommendations and conditions and said they would proceed with final-plat work. The county noted public access trails are planned through the protected open space and that staff received 13 letters of support and a small number of attendees at the required citizen participation meeting.

Next steps: the applicant will prepare a final plat and satisfy the resolution's conditions before the board's final-plat review.","Coconino County supervisors voted unanimously to adopt a preliminary plat for a clustered 38-lot subdivision near Mormon Lake that preserves nearly two-thirds of the 335-acre parcel as public-access open space and trail.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Coconino County board affirms hearing officer in Church of the Common Good code-enforcement appeal

At-a-glance: Coconino County board approves proclamation, liquor-license recommendations, RFQ award and consent items

Supervisors approve nearly $300,000 Arizona State Parks grant for Lake Powell rescue equipment

Board approves 38-lot Diablo Canyon preliminary plat with two-thirds protected as open space