The Sedona Planning and Zoning Commission passed the new design for Uptown’s C-Market on Tuesday, March 6.

The new design, which will replace the old Uptown building, passed by a vote of 5 to 2. Chairman Marty Losoff and Commissioners Michael Hadley, Eric Brandt, Scott Jablow and Geoffrey Messer voted in favor of the project, while Commissioners John Griffin and Norman Taylor voted against it.

The C-Market is located near the intersection of State Route 89A and Jordan Road.

City planner Nick Gioello offered a brief overview on the project to commissioners. Recent updates to the plan include the addition of a continuous overhang on the proposed building and reconfiguring the layout of windows facing the street, Gioello said. Since last May, city staff held a public hearing and work session on the C-Market project.

Gieollo said staff recommended approval based on the developer’s conformity to city codes, the Sedona Community Plan and design specifications for the main street district.

Project architect Dan Surber said work on the market redesign began in 2009.

“Basically the concept was to bring [the market] up to the front, making a plaza, adding the features of benches and umbrellas and bike racks and so forth, and trying to continue

that pedestrian feel,” Surber said.

Former Sedona Vice Mayor Jerry Frey told commissioners he supported the redesigned market. He said the redesign would prove to be a benefit to the community.

“Both for tax revenue, but also for people who live Uptown that want to just run up and get something. They don’t have to go all the way to West Sedona. It will be great for my clients. It’s a wonderful design,” Frey said. “Let’s get this approved so this guy can get this thing built.”

Nearby property owner Al Spector urged commissioners to support the project.

“I think, because it’s in conformance with all codes, you actually don’t have a choice but to approve it, but more importantly for Uptown, let me tell you why I think you should approve it. You should approve it because it is infinitely better than what is there now. It is a great addition to Uptown,” Spector said.

Objections to the project centered on parking issues, shade and a proposed clock tower on the site. Griffin said he still had concerns about following the design guidelines regarding the project.

“That was the concern we had at the outset of the project that it had too much of a contemporary look to it,” Griffin said.

“The first plans we saw were really pretty far afield,” Losoff said. “The succeeding ones didn’t quite come up to compliance. So here we are today.

“Yes, it has taken almost two years, some of it was personal, but on the other hand, we as a commission cannot take these things lightly. We have to look at our guidelines, we have to look at our codes and we have to be serious about them. These guidelines and these codes were developed for some reason. You can’t just dismiss them out of hand.

“If you don’t like them, it’s our charge, as well as City Council and others, to change them, and we haven’t done anything yet.”

He added two years is not normal when it comes to project approval.