The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors gave the green light — appropriately enough on St. Patrick’s Day — to a long-time promoter to continue hosting a popular outdoor art show in the Village of Oak Creek.
The unanimous vote came on Wednesday, March 17, following testimony from promoter Marlo Johnson, owner of the Sedona Vista Village Art Shows, as well as those for and against a use permit renewal.
Following the meeting, Johnson said she was very pleased with the outcome.
“After spirited debate and a lot of public input, the board reached a compromise that works for the art shows and the community,” she said. “I appreciate the board’s willingness to give me a fair hearing and disregard some of the speculation and misinformation that had been circulating.
“I also want to thank the staff at Yavapai County Development Services for their patience and understanding. This was a long and difficult process, and even though it’s over for now, I remain committed to hearing the community’s concerns and adjusting to them where I am able.”
The Yavapai County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 8-1 on Thursday, Feb. 18, in favor of recommending approval of a five-year use permit renewal to the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors.
Johnson’s permit request sought to allow up to 15 arts and craft shows per year for up to 50 vendors at the Sedona Vista Village. Johnson also runs the art show at Bell Rock Plaza, but that is under a separate use permit with the county and is not held as often.
The commission included several stipulations as part of its recommendation for this request, However, during the supervisor meeting, District 3 Supervisor Donna Michaels, whose district includes the VOC, requested three additional stipulations, which were part of the approved motion.
The new stipulations for this use permit include the following:
■ Use Permit Amendment to allow for up to 15 events a year with show hours 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday, for up to 50 vendors, to be approved for a period of two years — reduced from the requested five years.
■ Property to be developed in accordance with the site plan submitted with the Use Permit Amendment application and in accordance with all applicable codes, regulations and ordinance requirements.
■ One temporary sign for the events and one temporary sign to advise customers of the additional parking in the back of the mall with no balloons or banners.
■ In the event the owner of the subject property files a claim under state law regarding this Use Permit Amendment, this Use Permit Amendment shall be null and void.
■ On-site restrooms to remain in compliance with the Big Park Domestic Wastewater Improvement District.
■ Applicant to provide Development Services a schedule of events on an annual basis.
■ All vendors to maintain a 10-foot setback from the Arizona Department of Transportation right-of-way and Red Rock Road Maintenance Improvement District right-of-way.
■ The show will not be held on consecutive weekends at that location.
The county received a petition with the names of 224 people opposed to the use permit renewal. Officials stated at the meeting that the petition does not mention any of the proposed county stipulations. The county also received approximately 50 form letters in opposition.
In addition, the county has a citizen participation web page for the art show asking if they were in favor or opposed. As of the morning of the meeting, 75 were opposed, 43 in favor and two neutral.
At the meeting, eight spoke in opposition of the renewal, stating concerns such as ingress/egress issues, parking safety, site plan modifications and the location of the art show in general.
A dozen people spoke in favor of the show, stating that it provides a main or supplemented income for artists, many of whom live in the Village. Some said that by bringing visitors to the area, it benefits other businesses, not just in the plaza but all of the Village. They also noted how well-organized the events are in terms of pedestrian and vehicular traffic and safety measures put in place during the ongoing pandemic.
Johnson has said they average about 300 people per day at the art shows
and that it provides income for many local artists. She said there have been no incidents in the time she’s operated the show and when there were concerns, she has addressed them immediately.
Originally, the application was being processed as a use permit renewal with no modifications because the request and stipulations were not changing or being modified. This could be handled at the staff level.
“However, after receiving feedback from the community, including BPRCC, Development Services has determined this application cannot be processed as a Use Permit Renewal with No Modification,” Yavapai County Senior Planner Leah Brock told the Sedona Red Rock News in November. “It instead will need to be processed as a use permit renewal with modifications due to the change in site plan, with the addition of the Element Hotel.”
A use permit renewal with modifications requires a full public hearing including community outreach and a recommendation from the commission prior to the supervisors meeting.
