Sedona City Council discussed the possible expansion of Sky Ranch Lodge, located atop Airport Mesa, during a special meeting Wednesday, Oct. 10.

Council members met for just over an hour to ask city staff and lodge representatives their questions regarding the proposed development and proposed amendment to the Sedona Community Plan to change the property in question from public/semi-public use to commercial.

No formal decision was made, though the matter will return to council, and it will ultimately decide if the amendment is granted. A formal public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 23.

City of Sedona Senior Planner Mike Raber offered a brief overview of the project at the start of the meeting.

“The change in our community plan map designation from public/semi-public to commercial and lodging is what constitutes a major amendment to the plan in this case,” Raber explained. “Arizona law requires us to conduct a public hearing on a major amendment application every year.” Raber said city staff believes the proposed expansion of 40 lodging units on 4.6 acres does not create a significant impact to the proportion of lodging in the city.

“Lodging uses in the city are also not displacing other commercial uses on the city’s highway corridors,” Raber said.

For the full story, see the Friday, Oct. 5, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.