In a pivotal meeting held on the evening of September 23, 2025, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors listened intently as Pastor Andrew Stevens of the Church of the Common Good presented an appeal regarding the church's use of a property purchased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The church, which serves as a religious retreat, is seeking to overturn a decision that has hindered its operations due to zoning violations.

Pastor Stevens recounted the challenges faced by the church when it acquired the property in July 2020, a time when government offices were closed, preventing the usual pre-site inspections and conditional use permits. He argued that the violations cited against the church were based on evidence collected before the church owned the property and claimed that inspections conducted without permission amounted to trespassing.

The pastor emphasized that the property is zoned for general use, which allows for various activities, including agricultural and residential uses. He pointed out that even county officials acknowledged that the retreat's character aligns with permitted uses like campgrounds. Stevens invoked the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), asserting that the church's mission to provide a sanctuary for nomadic individuals is being unjustly restricted by local zoning laws.

The church's retreat, located six miles down a dirt road, serves as a temporary haven for individuals who lack safe places to rest, particularly in Flagstaff, where local ordinances complicate vehicle dwelling. Stevens argued that the county's demands for costly infrastructure improvements would undermine the retreat's spiritual mission and transform it into a commercial facility, which he claimed would violate the church's religious principles.

In his closing remarks, Stevens urged the board to consider the implications of denying the appeal, framing it as a matter of religious liberty and equal treatment under the law. He expressed hope that the board would allow the church to pursue the necessary permits, thereby affirming the values of justice and religious freedom in Coconino County.

Following Stevens' presentation, Mark Stento, the compliance manager for Coconino County Community Development, was set to address the board, indicating that the discussion surrounding this case would continue to unfold. The outcome of this appeal could have significant implications for how religious organizations navigate zoning laws and exercise their missions in the county.