The Sedona City Council has taken a significant step towards revitalizing a long-vacant site on Soldier Pass Road by approving the development of the Village at Saddlerock Crossing. On September 24, the council voted 4-3 to endorse a zone change and development agreement for the hotel and residential project.

Originally proposed by James Biddle in 1984 for a 100-room hotel accompanied by 60 casitas, the site has seen various development plans over the years. The latest proposal, brought forward by the Baney family, features a 100-room hotel and 46 workforce apartments, intended to occupy 6.4 acres of the property.

This proposal follows the Planning and Zoning Commission’s previous 4-2 approval in February. However, city staff initially recommended denial after expressing concerns regarding compliance with the Land Development Code. The developers had aimed to offer a more appealing plan, initially proposing 110 hotel rooms and 40 apartments, half designated for workforce housing. The council opted to defer the decision for six months, allowing for enhanced community engagement on the plans.

Cari Meyer, the Planning Manager, reiterated that significant concerns remain unresolved despite changes made to the proposal. “They believe they have addressed a number of those comments,” Meyer noted, “but our assessment had not changed.”

Benjamin Tate, the attorney representing Baney Corporation, defended the updated plans submitted in July, arguing that the adjustments made should be sufficient for the permit review process. He pointed out that several inconsistencies were identified, which he claims are minor and can be corrected without significant rework.

Some council members highlighted the challenging timeline for community feedback, suggesting that late engagement may have hampered meaningful input into the revised plans.

Community Engagement Efforts

Tate noted that following the council’s postponement in March, the Baneys organized five public meetings, attracting roughly 35% participation from the neighborhood. In response to feedback, the team modified the hotel design to incorporate amenities that could compete with short-term rentals, repurposing 20 traditional rooms into 10 self-contained suites.

Additional adjustments included improved visual barriers, removal of certain recreational features, and the commitment to sustainable practices, alongside a proposed dog park. The development prioritizes workforce housing, with leases requiring a minimum of 90 days and a focus on local residents who are employed or have job offers in Sedona.

In an effort to mitigate potential neighborhood disturbances, residents will face restrictions such as bans on street parking, regulations regarding balcony use, and quiet hours from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. The absence of pets, aside from service animals, in residential units is also mandated, although the hotel component will allow pets.

Tate indicated that the workforce housing element is projected to incur a net loss estimated at $7 million over the next 25 years, contrasted with a potential benefit of $24 million to the Sedona community.

Impact on Local Traffic

Traffic projections highlighted a distinct advantage of the Saddlerock Crossing project. According to Tate, traffic modeling illustrated that development under by-right commercial zoning could result in between 6,000 and 14,474 daily trips, depending on occupancy levels. In contrast, the Saddlerock Crossing development anticipates only 1,374 trips per day.

“By rezoning this property, there is an actual tangible public benefit in terms of trip reduction,” Tate asserted.

Mixed Community Response