Commission studies Rodman/Merriam Crater CUP amendment to expand overnight lodging
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Summary
At a Feb. 25 study session, Coconino County planning staff briefed commissioners on a CUP amendment that would increase overnight lodging at a land‑art project from 8 people in 4 units to 66 people in 33 units; commissioners scheduled a staff‑led site visit and asked for emergency‑services details before the March 25 public hearing.
The Coconino County Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 25 received an orientation on a proposed amendment to a long‑standing conditional‑use permit for the land‑art project variously referenced in the meeting materials as Rodman Crater and Merriam Crater.
Bob, county planning staff, told the commission the property owner is SkyStone Foundation Inc. of Flagstaff and the applicant is Jan Blackman. The parcel discussed is roughly 640 acres about six miles north of Loop Road where it meets Merriam Crater; staff described the project as a land‑art museum that was originally permitted in the mid‑1990s. “They wanted to allow an increase in overnight stays … from 8 people in 4 lodging units … to 66 people in 33 lodging units,” Bob said during the presentation.
Staff said the applicant has provided a new emergency‑services plan to address the larger number of overnight visitors and reviewed a site map showing portions of the property on state trust land. Commissioners noted the original CUP dates back to 1995–1997 and that the lodging authorization traces to those approvals.
Commissioners discussed arranging a site visit. Vice Chair Best and others said they wanted to see the site but emphasized the need to avoid even the appearance of conditioning a vote on a private tour. Staff said it has a site‑visit latitude scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, to stake the site and asked commissioners to notify staff if they wished to attend; commissioners asked that visits be conducted as official business if done before the public hearing.
Why it matters: the amendment would substantially increase overnight capacity at an artist‑led land installation on a large, partly state‑trust parcel. Commissioners signaled the need to verify emergency‑service access and other operational details before the March 25 hearing.
Next steps: the item is scheduled for public hearing on March 25; staff will circulate site‑visit logistics and the applicant’s emergency‑services plan ahead of that hearing.