Commission recommends rezoning for Oak Creek arts site, homeowners agree to ban short-term rentals

The Sedona Planning and Zoning Commission on Jan. 6 voted unanimously to recommend that the Sedona City Council approve a minor community plan amendment and a zone change for a 0.31-acre parcel at 110 Oak Creek Boulevard (APN 408-26-039), moving the site from single-family medium-density to a mixed-use neighborhood designation.

Assistant planner Alex presented the staff report, saying the request would align the parcel’s designation with surrounding mixed-use areas and allow limited commercial and residential uses under the M1 district. Alex told commissioners staff found the application met the relevant Land Development Code criteria and recommended approval with conditions, including a deed restriction limiting short-term rentals.

Paul Kaiser, who identified himself as a property owner with partner Susan Herman, told the commission the building has served as art studios for decades and that the owners would accept the deed restriction. Kaiser summarized the staff report’s findings and asked the commission to forward the recommendations to the City Council. He said the interior conversion would accommodate up to four residential units and that existing operations have not generated neighbor complaints. “We improved the property to bring the property up to match the design code of Sedona,” Kaiser said.

Commissioners asked staff and the applicants to confirm that the existing artisan manufacturing use would become a conditionally permitted activity under M1 and that, if the owners wished to continue that use, they would need to apply for a conditional-use permit. Commissioners also sought clarity about the deed restriction’s term; property owner Kaiser said he was willing to accept a 40-year restriction and later indicated agreement that the deed restriction would run with the land indefinitely if that is the commission’s preference. Staff noted the deed restriction language would be reviewed by the city attorney as part of the council process.

After questions and no public speakers on this item, a commissioner moved to recommend approval of the minor community plan amendment (case PZ25-00005) and the zone change (case PZ25-00005ZC), adopting the staff report as the commission’s findings. The motion was seconded and passed by unanimous voice vote.

What happens next: The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Sedona City Council for final action. Council review will include confirmation of the deed restriction language and any conditions of approval carried forward by the commission.