Planning and Zoning Greenlights New Meadery Venture

The Alkemista Meadery project in West Sedona is set to advance following a unanimous decision by the Planning and Zoning Commission on May 20 to approve an extension for its development review. The meadery, located at the intersection of State Route 89A and Goodrow Lane, faced previous delays that resulted in a loss of financing last year, as stated by the applicant.

The commission initially approved the meadery’s development review on June 6, 2023, with the Sedona City Council following suit on June 11, 2024. Building permits were granted on August 4, 2024, and the newly approved extension will facilitate the issuance of additional permits without requiring a complete restart of the review process.

Senior Planner Gary Leikness detailed the phased approach proposed by the developers. The first building is slated for construction to begin in July 2025, with completion anticipated by July 2027. Following that, the fourth building is expected to start in August 2027 and finish within a year. The timeline continues, with the third building commencing in August 2028 and anticipated completion in 2029, followed by the second building starting in May 2029 and concluding by December of the same year. This strategy aims to mitigate potential timing issues.

Developer Sergio Goma expressed the challenges faced due to funding expiration, stating that their loans lapsed in June 2024. Efforts to secure conditional approval to commence work were unsuccessful, necessitating a phased plan to manage rising interest rates. “We had funding for all this to be started last year, but the city’s delays impacted our timeline,” Goma explained.

Leikness noted that the proposal amends the original approval conditions to adopt this phased construction approach, which aligns with the land development code. Community Development Director Steve Mertes emphasized the benefits of this strategy, stating it allows for better oversight of the construction process, ensuring a new building starts every year.

Vice Chairwoman Charlotte Hosseini remarked on the timeline’s length but expressed support for the plan. Commissioner Sarah Weihl inquired whether the first building could be operational before the entire project’s completion, to which Planning Manager Cari Meyer confirmed that individual permits would allow for such flexibility.

The commission concluded by approving the time extension with a 6-0 vote, marking a significant step forward for the Alkemista Meadery project.