Sedona City Council unanimously agreed that plans to renovate and expand L’Auberge de Sedona with the offer of four affordable housing units merited a rezoning.
Larson Newspapers
Sedona City Council unanimously agreed that plans to renovate and expand L’Auberge de Sedona with the offer of four affordable housing units merited a rezoning.
On Tuesday, Dec. 9, council voted 7-0 to rezone Al Spector’s L’Auberge de Sedona [Lodging], Orchards Inn [General Commercial], Canyon Portal [Planned Development], Amara Resort & Spa [Planned Development] and Sinagua Plaza [General Commerical] all to Planned Development in order to expand L’Auberge.
Council also approved a Development Agreement and Land Use Restriction Agreement for four affordable housing units to go behind Sinagua parking garage.
Council decided to leave the window of discussion open for a possible city creekwalk that may run through L’Auberge property. By leaving it open, an easement for the creekwalk through the property may be agreed upon by the city and L’Auberge in the future.
Bear Wallow residents, across Oak Creek from L’Auberge, spoke highly of L’Auberge’s renovations, but spoke strongly against a creek-walk that would lead tourists in front of their homes, a creek’s width away.
People do cross the creek, Bear Creek residents told council. Tourists use their boats, they sit in their chairs and one resident came home to a stranger barbecuing on his patio.
Work at L’Auberge — to be done by Tiffany Construction — will begin immediately, Spector said.
“We have funding in place,” he said. “This isn’t a project to rezone to increase the land value.”
Councilwoman Pud Colquitt congratulated Spector on his project.
“L’Auberge is synonymous with Sedona,” she said. “I think you did your homework. I know you have a good contractor, so I congratulate you.”
Although the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and the Sedona Main Street Program praised the project for its potential to bring higher-end tourists to the area, Councilman Cliff Hamilton wasn’t swayed by big wallets.
“I wouldn’t vote for a project because it provides Sedona with sales tax,” he said. “I would approve a project because it’s right for Sedona, and I believe this project is.”
The Project
L’Auberge will see the addition of 31 new lodging units, including 17 hillside cottages and 11 spa cottages near the existing spa building.
{loadposition mainbody}There will be 89 lodges when construction is complete.
A two-level, 150-space parking garage will be built with solar panels covering the carports.
All parking will be valet. Any guest wishing to go Uptown will be transported by staff in electric jitney cars.
Plans call for renovations and improvement of the Owenby Ditch, elimination of all existing surface parking and blacktop and the addition of a swimming pool.
Affordable Housing
L’Auberge renovation plans call for four affordable housing units behind the Sinagua Plaza.
The four units will each be 521 square feet and available to individuals making $33,050 or less a year or couples making $37,750 or less.
Two apartments will be designated for Spector employees, one for Sedona-Oak Creek School District employees and one for a city of Sedona employee.
If no one under those preferences is interested, Spector will extend the offer to his employees, and then to the general public who fit the qualifications.
The affordable requirement is in effect for 50 years or for as long as the development remains a lodging unit, Community Development Director John O’Brien said.
Alison Ecklund can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 125, or e-mail aecklund@larsonnewspapers.com
