Sedona Office Building Approved In Centerville
Graphic by Michael J. Thomas, Architect, LLP
For the second time in less than a month, Centerville City Council members grilled planners of a proposed three-story downtown office building, but this time the council approved the project.
At its December 13 meeting, the council had delayed action on the project, planned for 7029 - 20th Ave. S. as a new commercial phase of an existing nine-building, $6.5 million Sedona commercial development begun in 2003.
At the December meeting, Mayor Mary Capra and other council members worried that the offi ce building's design did not match the rest of the development, which is made up of two-story offi ce condominiums.
Capra, for example, said the office building - to house administrative offi ces for Eagle Brook Church - "should be like the mother of the smaller buildings" but "now they look like they're adopted."
Capra specifically suggested new design elements to enhance the building's roofline as part of a list of architectural details she said would improve the project.
City Attorney Kurt Glaser also noted unresolved issues involving parking space requirements, parkland-dedication plans, and utility and drainage requirements.
At the council's January 10 meeting, Sedona Townhomes Chief Manager Paul Keleher presented new architectural renderings showing, among other things, an altered, more aesthetic roofline, along with color-scheme changes and new decorative-stone features on the front of the structure.
Glaser added that previous parking, parkland and utility/drainage issues had "been worked out" since the council's December 13 meeting.
"We feel that with these changes, we've brought an identity to the building that matches our existing buildings," Keleher told the council. "We feel that there is (now) very much compatibility between the buildings."
Initially, however, it appeared that the council might again send the project back to the drawing board after Capra expressed disappointment that the roofline enhancements, for example, were made only on the building's front "tower" and not all the way around the structure.
Capra also worried that some of the building's new gray tones might clash with the rest of the development.
"I think we've come a long way with this project," she acknowledged, adding, however, "Do I still think it's an incredibly high building that might conflict with the existing development? Absolutely."
Capra's skepticism, however, prompted support for the latest design from resident Michael Warner, who owns a Sedona office unit near the proposed office building.
"I think it's a good-looking building, and I'd love to have it as a neighbor," Warner said.
Added Council Member Linda Broussard Vickers after characterizing the new design as better than other downtown structures nearby, "I like the way the building looks now. . I think this is a good compromise."
Meanwhile, Broussard Vickers noted that the building - which is expected to bring an estimated 70 jobs to Centerville - will also improve the city's tax base.
As it had at the council's December 13 meeting, that notion struck a chord with Council Member Tom Lee, who commented that "part of the reason we approved some of (the development) in the beginning was to encourage businesses to locate in the area."
After a 60-minute discussion on the matter, the council approved the building's conditional use permit and re-plat on separate unanimous voice votes.