Board rezones Grand Canyon Inn & Cabins property at Valley highway junction after public hearing

Coconino County supervisors approved a zone change March 18 to allow redevelopment of the Grand Canyon Inn & Cabins site at the intersection of State Route 64 and U.S. 180 in Valley.

The property is a longstanding commercial lodging site that was rendered “legal nonconforming” after county zoning changes in 1981. The applicant asked to rezone a 5.76‑acre parcel from G (general, 10‑acre minimum residential/agricultural) to CG (Commercial General, 10,000‑sq‑ft minimum) to permit renovation of a 28‑room motel, refurbish a historic sign, and develop up to 50 park‑model RV spaces and five workforce housing units. The county’s Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval.

Why it was filed: County staff and the applicant said the rezoning is intended to convert an old, grandfathered commercial use into a conforming commercial condition so the property can be rehabilitated and meet current fire and health standards. The applicant’s plan includes on‑site well development and a new wastewater system to state permitting standards, and the sheriff’s office and High Country Fire reviewed preliminary plans.

Public comment: Dozens of residents and stakeholders spoke during a lengthy public hearing. Supporters said the property sits at the commercial hub of Valley and will bring tourism and jobs to the area. Opponents raised concerns about traffic at the highway junction, emergency response distances, water resources and the timing of a planned Valley area‑plan update. County legal counsel advised the board that state law requires a land‑use application be judged against existing plans and ordinances rather than hypothetical future amendments, and that a permanent delay while the area plan is updated would amount to an unlawful moratorium.

Board findings and vote: County staff framed the request as consistent with the county comprehensive plan and the Valley area plan’s intent to focus commercial development at the highway junction. The board found the three zoning criteria were met: consistency with plan goals, no detriment to public health and safety given required permits and mitigations, and no adverse effect on the established character of the surrounding neighborhood; supervisors voted to adopt Ordinance 2025‑02 (rezoning) after the public hearing.

Follow‑up and conditions: The conditional‑use permit for the RV park requires drought‑tolerant landscaping, state permits for the well and wastewater system, ADOT review and any traffic mitigation determined by a Traffic Impact Analysis, and a six‑foot solid fence at the airport property line to address trespass concerns. The parcel change triggered a protest from an adjacent property owner inside the 300‑foot protest radius; because a protest was filed the board approved the rezoning by the higher approval threshold required under county rules.