Very funny after the cow was let out of the barn when the city voted approval to enter the real estate business by randomly rezoning for “affordable housing” in established residential areas. Too little too late.

I appreciate your quick and knowledgeable response. I completely agree with your opinions about the Cultural Park and the Creek Walk, no further discussion needed.

When it comes to the Community Plan update, keep in mind that the City is mandated to conduct this project every 10 years. While I can also agree that the whole process may seem useless because there’s no money, the process still has to be done. In concept, the fact that a community can have real input into the future of their city is a fantastic idea and to the best of my knowledge, not mandated in other state. That aside, I always thought that if the State mandates that each City goes through the Community Plan process, then they should kick in a few million dollars to help accomplish the changes derived from the plan but we all know that this would never happen.

For you to say that you have attended many Community Plan public meetings over the years doesn’t say that you have attended THE CURRENT meetings. While I wasn’t a resident 10 years ago, I have heard from those who were, that this process appears to be much more focused. It’s easy to sit back in your home and take cheap shots but I must say the people conducting this plan have pulled out all of the stops to do their best to GET IT RIGHT.

Patrick Michael Thomas

And yes, as a matter of fact, I did submit a written suggestion and to my knowledge it was added to the mix. With respect and acknowledgment that demographics of Sedona as well as other growing communities do, indeed, change to some degree, unlike other cities and towns, protecting Sedona’s outstanding scenic attraction was, from the beginning, to have remained the focus in Sedona.

That was the reason Sedona became an incorporated municipality, to maintain local control since some people didn’t approve of the direction being taken under the previous jurisdiction of Yapapai and Coconino Counties. Of course it is absolutely a matter of varying opinions whether or not Sedona’s rare treasure has been handled with the care and consideration many think it deserves.

As for devastating financial burdens, that remains to be seen. My only suggestion is that people who visualize high end facilities do so realistically with full disclosure as to potential citizen obligation. For example, the former organizers of the Cultural Park had been forewarned, by people far more knowledgeable than I, about the predicted fate of that complex and they turned out to be correct.

As for potential perils of a creek walk and related public park, historically they have proven real as evidenced by serious flooding when spring rains melt vast amounts of snowfall in the higher elevations. That, Mr. Thomas, is a fact over and above additional flood threats during the monsoon season. For years study after study has resulted in the same conclusion: Creek walk, bad idea.

Further, the Community Plan serves only as a guideline of suggestions. Time and time again city codes and ordinances work to dilute the plan’s effectiveness which, in a way, renders it a somewhat useless document or, frequently at best, an application to be applied according to varied interpretations. Another fact, Sir.

Respectfully,

Eddie Maddock

As an elder Sedona resident I was thrilled at the way the City staff has handled the Community Plan Update. I have attended every one of the open meetings at the middle school, have you? I don’t recall ever seeing you there. If you had attended, you would have learned a lot about this project.

I’m a former resident from Ft. Lauderdale and the idea that Local Government would spend money on a project such as the Community Plan Update, would never be discussed because they don’t care about big changes. This whole project has been as transparent and accessible as anyone can imagine. I remember John Sather and Mike Bower saying that they went to every extreme to get input, houses of worship, schools, senior centers, C of C, even to the extent of offering a Party in a Box to community organizations and small groups. HOW MUCH MORE CAN ANYONE ASK?

The mere fact that the committee received over 1000 suggestions is a great accomplishment, were any of them from you?

Your scare tactics of DEVASTATING FINANCIAL BURDENS are just that, scare tactics. Your rants in the posting are all over the place with very few making sense.

Perhaps it’s time for you to hang up your keyboard, if that doesn’t work, why not attend some of the open meetings at the Community Room or speak with Mr. Raber at City Hall and GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT.

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