Planning commission approves design review for Oak Creek cabins despite debate over visible rooflines

The Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7–2 on March 26 to approve DRO-25-001, a design review overlay application to replace and standardize the resort cabins at the Mesmerie Nature Resort (formerly Don Hall’s Cabins) in Oak Creek Canyon.

The commission’s action followed a staff presentation by planner Robert “Bob” Short and a design presentation by architect Fernando Mercado, who described the proposed cabins as one- and two-bedroom units with vertical siding, large windows and rooftop decks. Mercado said the project team plans to use cementitious, fiber-reinforced siding and other assemblies designed to achieve a one-hour fire rating to address Sedona-area fire concerns.

The commission’s approval was based on findings that the proposed cabin design “is compatible with the neighborhood and historic structures” and that materials and scale subordinate structures to the natural landscape, consistent with the Oak Creek Canyon area plan design guidelines cited by staff. Commission debate focused on visibility from Highway 89A, materials and whether the two cabins nearest the highway should use roof profiles that match the existing historic resort office. Commissioner Best moved to require that the two most-visible cabins (identified in the master plan as Cabins 7 and 14) have roof profiles matching the resort main office; that proposed condition failed to gain majority support.

Vice Chair Wilson and Commissioner Best voted against final approval. A majority of commissioners said the proposed modern, relatively simple cabin forms and nonreflective, dark brown finishes would blend with the canyon setting and that the area plan’s guidelines do not mandate imitation of historic styles. Several commissioners and staff also emphasized public-safety benefits from upgrading older, sometimes-rotted cabins to modern, fire-resistant assemblies.

The approved design review applies to the replacement of up to 29 cabins on the 16.77-acre resort parcel at 9440 N. State Route 89A in the Oak Creek Canyon area. Staff emphasized that the current application dealt only with design review; site plan and other development approvals for the resort master plan remain subject to separate processes and building-permit reviews, including fire-district and building-code requirements that may be addressed at permitting.

The commission’s formal motion to approve DRO-25-001 was made by Commissioner Walsh and seconded by Commissioner Williams. Vote record (as read into the meeting minutes): Vice Chair Wilson — no; Commissioner Walsh — yes; Commissioner Williams — yes; Commissioner Berger — yes; Commissioner Leslie — yes; Commissioner Best — no; Commissioner Hayward — yes; Chair Burton — yes. The motion passed, 7–2.

During the public hearing the applicant’s representative confirmed planned use of cementitious fiber-reinforced siding with factory-applied finish, selected in part to meet fire performance standards and potentially avoid sprinkler requirements.

The commission’s decision, as a design-review approval, is binding unless appealed to the Board of Supervisors on procedural grounds within the county’s appeal period.

The commission also received clarification from staff that design review in Oak Creek Canyon applies only to commercial, industrial and multiunit development in designated design-review overlay areas and that the Oak Creek design guidelines emphasize sensitivity to site and materials rather than prescribing one architectural style.

The meeting record shows that Commissioner Ruggles recused himself from an earlier agenda item after a site-visit disclosure; he did not participate in later deliberations on unrelated items.