Despite a 5-2 vote in favor of a zone change that would give CVS the green light to build in Sedona, it now appears the nationwide pharmacy chain will not be calling Sedona home any time soon.

During its Tuesday, March 10, meeting the Sedona City Council voted on the project, which has been more than two years in the works. However, unlike most decisions where the majority rules, this time was different. A petition was circulated and received enough signatures [see bullet point for details] resulting in a legal protest. In that case, 75 percent of the council — or six of seven — had to vote in favor of the measure for it to pass. Vice Mayor Mark DiNunzio and Councilwoman Angela LeFevre voted against the zone change so despite the majority rule, the project has now been denied.

Following the meeting, DiNunzio and LeFevre summed up their concerns about the project.

• According to Sedona City Code, if a written protest against a proposed amendment — in this case a zone change — is filed with the Sedona city clerk no later than five days before the council hearing, the proposed amendment shall not become effective except by the favorable vote of three-fourths of the council members. With a seven-member council fully present, a three-fourths supermajority is defined as at least six members. A written protest must be filed by at least 20 percent of the owners living within a 150-foot radius of the property line of the project in question.

To read the full story, see the Friday, March 13, edition of the Sedona Red Rock News.