Attorney Jason Morris has been representing CVS for the past 15 years, during which time the company has opened 60 stores in Arizona. But his 61st has proven to be the most difficult.

It’s been more than a year and a half since the nationwide pharmacy first appeared before the city of Sedona, seeking to build on the vacant five acres on the corner of Airport Road and State Route 89A.

“It’s become unlike any other experience I’ve had,” Morris said. “But we always anticipated that this would be a different land use case than these others.”
Morris has spoken before the Sedona Planning and Zoning Commission several times over the last two years as well as twice before Sedona City Council. The last, on March 10, saw the requested zone change denied despite council voting in favor 5-2. A rarely-used legal protest was in effect after residents near the project site garnered enough signatures against the zone change. In that case, a super-majority vote was required — meaning six of the seven council members had to vote in favor.

The issue will be revisited as council will again vote on the zone change during its Tuesday, April 14, meeting. The legal protest is still in effect so in order to pass, six votes will be needed.

To read the full story, see the Friday, April 10, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.