SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie S. Maddock
Sedona AZ – At a Special Sedona City Council Meeting, 3:00 Wednesday afternoon on January 11, 2017, after three long years of a contentious destination marketing agreement with the Sedona Chamber of Commerce, the City will again revisit the issue. We can only hope the negotiations will prove to be less controversial, fairer, and, in turn, result in acceptable transparency which will dismiss suspicion and mistrust of City Hall dealings. That might very well have been the case had the original commitment for Requests for Proposals (RFPs) as well as certified outside audits been upheld as proposed during the initial negotiations. Ignoring both valid concerns was a disservice to everyone.
Five options will be discussed at this meeting as follows:
Option 1: Move forward with the negotiations of a new contract with the Chamber of Commerce.
Option 2: Issue an RFP for tourism promotion services.
Option 3: Create a stand-alone destination marketing organization (DMO) without ties to the Chamber of Commerce.
Option 4: Create a City Department to handle tourism promotion.
Option 5: Issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a travel industry consultancy to assess the current structure, funding relationships, etc. and provide recommendations to the city.
Pros and cons of each option will be discussed at length, such as concerns RFPs will include bids from for-profit agencies. That brings up several questions. Without an official outside audit from a qualified source, how do they know the Chamber has not been making a profit? How many employees have they hired? What has been the cost of improvement to its own facilities, etc? And what is the source of funding for those operating expenses?
And will the City acknowledge the Chamber currently offers its own RFPs for specific services, realistically reducing it to a mere middle-agency, acting on behalf of the City of Sedona?
And how do they justify the extended branding of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce that has occurred within the past three years? What has been the source of that promotional funding for the Chamber instead of the City?
By creating a stand-alone destination marketing organization, the City could avoid real or perceived conflicts between tourism promotion services and the various other functions of the Chamber of Commerce. Although they specify… it is unclear how local and regional partners would react… why should that concern the City? Should their focus at long last be redirected to the residents of incorporated Sedona? They are the people who created the City in the first place, clearly, and with the knowledge it attracted tourists.
Sure, a stand-alone destination marketing organization would result in the re-creation of an already established and successful local agency. However the extent of success of the present local agency has never been undisputedly proven. The source of increased revenue after the great recession coupled with a reduction in gasoline prices has never factually been factored into the increased tourism and resulting upswing in revenue. Nor has it been determined to what extent advertising monies have merely resulted in excessive daytripping, which the City’s infrastructure clearly cannot handle.
As for the suggestion for Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a travel industry consultancy to assess and monitor the current structure, would that be nothing more than a babysitter for the contract with the Chamber of Commerce? Should the City have been serving that function for the past three years?
It has frequently been said the City could not afford to operate their stand-alone department. And how would they know? With a Chamber of Commerce now providing funding for USFS trail maintenance, contributing money back to the City for their traffic study, and other generous but questionably frivolous expenditures, most recently to propose purchasing property on behalf of the City with what appears to be leftover funds from the bed tax rebate, how can they make that determination without a precise and reliable audit from an authentic source? They cannot. Is there any reasonable explanation why the City should not take responsibility for allocating the bed tax revenue – all of it – including over and above destination marketing?
And the perfect opportunity to establish a genuine Sedona Visitors Center has been ignored by not including such a service at the Western Gateway. How long will this City tolerate discrimination of their own legitimate licensed, tax collecting businesses within City Limits unless they are forced to be members of what clearly is a regional Chamber of Commerce? And the practice of paid referrals is common, but should the City be involved by financing the activity with public funds and further discriminating against in-city businesses?
Molly Spangler recently hired by the city of Sedona AZ as its Economic Development Director.
With the recent hiring of a professional, Molly Spangler, to serve as Economic Development Director, there is really no need to burden our busy Chamber of Commerce with more additional duties besides servicing its members, which is the purpose of its non-profit organization.
Since when was the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau deemed the “Destination Marketing & Management Organization in Sedona for 65 years?” Up until just a few years ago was it not the Oak Creek Canyon Sedona Chamber of Commerce, then changed to Sedona Chamber of Commerce, and most recently “& Tourism Bureau” was tacked on? This elaborate extension of creating yet another illusion that simply does not exist is pretty much over the top. Wouldn’t you agree? Dumb question.
There is already a campaign in motion to “Make America Great Again.” How about a local endeavor to “Make Sedona Respectable Again”? Meet and greet our visitors with an authentic Sedona Visitors Center and related advertising?
Don’t we deserve it like other places?
Flagstaff (AZ) and Park City (UT) are but two examples that offer proof they survive very well without financial support to their respective Chambers of Commerce.
Read www.SedonaEye.com for daily news and interactive views!
Sedona heat waves mean stay home like locals do.
This nonprofit ROCKS!!!!!
100% Volunteers
Mission
Friends of the Forest is a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization, with membership open to all who are dedicated to maintaining, protecting, and restoring the scenic beauty of our National Forest lands in the Sedona area for the enjoyment and use of present and future generations. By building a partnership with the Red Rock Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest, Friends of the Forest volunteers help fill the gap between needs and resources. We provide teamwork and financial resources to assist the Forest Service in its day-to-day operations.
Friends of the Forest Inc
aka Friends of the Forest Sedona | Sedona, AZ | https://www.friendsoftheforestsedona.org/
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/closures/7567/
Coconino National Forest closed as of 8 a.m. this morning.
Incident Type: Wildfire
Updated: 37 min. ago
Size: 24,064 Acres
Rock Buttes Fires and others in northern Arizona
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7556/
Karma Sedona with smoke and fire. Pray.
Hurrah and yippee not only for Friends of the Forest but also the USFS for having the good sense to close access to national forest land. At least in Coconino County.
Now if the decision were to remain with city council, staff, and chamber of commerce little doubt they would use pending disaster to promote Sedona for spectacular first hand view of wildfires.
Hopefully the USFS will keep their word and fine and/or sue the socks off those who quite possibly will attempt to violate restrictions. At least it won’t be special interests controlling Sedona who will profit from this potential disaster which is never an “if”” but a “when”.
Boohoo greed mongers. However it’s unfortunate for the few businesses here who actually do serve and care about residents.
And which businesses actually do serve and care about residents?
Could you list them?
This ought to be priceless!
I thought all you capitalism lovers whole shtick is based only on greed?
@West Sedona Dave = If you aren’t aware of some of the long time businesses in Sedona then perhaps you spend too much time with those stupid “citizen engagement groups” (aka special interests) as implemented under the Babs Litrell/Rob Adams/John Martinez reign of terror?
Thanks again for helping to point out the flaws in Sedona City Government.
I’m a little tired of the mouth on people like west Sedona Dave living here in paradise and doing nothing to protect it.
(SedonaEye.com editor: Our apologies for posting a comment which was inaccurately attributed. It is now corrected. Use Anonymous when posting and not the names of SE writers and staff. For the record, we welcome your comments.)
Im still waiting on a list of the good and bad businesses?
All I get is trolls with no answers!…Why is that?
If you spend your money then you must be happy with where its going. Lots of people spending money here and there in my stores and happy spenders they are. We tried that communist socialist system during COVID shutdowns ——- how’d that work out for you?
(deleted by editor)
Funny dude! Your the one trying to sell that kool-aid. Why don’t you make the list and post.
City went down the chamber’s road of only tourism matters. Directing all businesses down that road. Jennifer & Steve said during CC meetings that residents don’t contribute. Promoting Sedona to bring in investors and driving locals out.
Residents of Venice in Italy are demanding no return to millions of tourists. The water has begun to clean itself and the garbage and trash issues disappeared. The residents want limited tourism controlled by city and state to not overwhelm resources. Also they know that businesses were built on tourism but they say take it elsewhere or live within limited tourism. Look it up. The number of residents is similar to Sedona and the tourism impact similar to Sedona. Limits can be set to protect residential and ecological interests and not those of out of state and rental businesses. Google it to learn more. Sedona city council do it for the people.
As horrible as the wild fires are in Arizona (and it’s early in the season with predication of weak monsoons) let us enjoy the momentary lull in traffic.
Hit the submit button too soon. Rest of comment below:
With the USFS using wise judgement in closing forest trails the traffic is thus at a more comfortable pace.
Forget West 89 it’s hopeless.
So enjoy the moment and look at the cup in Sedona as half full instead of half empty. It won’t last – unless Mother Nature chooses to spread her warning further and burn out City of Sedona. Better her than ill-conceived decisions of the Chamber/Lodging and City Councils? Destruction lurks in many forms.
June 25, 2021
Incident Type: Rafael Wildfire
Updated: 2 hrs. ago @1:00 PM
Now Size: 39,641 Acres
No tourists should be allowed north of Sunset or Prescott turn offs on I17 is my point of view.
Here’s some more news you likely missed. Additional areas of Yavapai County west of Sedona were upgraded to “set” status for potential evacuations on Wednesday afternoon.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office announced that areas off of Bill Gray Road, Forest Road 525, and Forest Road 152c north of 89A are now at ”set” status.
The areas north of 89A in West Sedona and north of 89A in Uptown Sedona have been placed on “ready” status. The office said there is no immediate threat to these areas but based on the fire’s location and behavior and possible weather impacts, residents should continue to monitor official notifications.
That announcement came after some ranches were evacuated. Be sure you’re following the Rafael
Fire link in a comment above. I am.
@Mike, thanks and saw this to share! I saw an advertisement that showed how to avoid USFS road closures to have fun! Who is responsible for that and they should be fired or prosecuted! They found the Cornville fire started on forest land and not a structure!
Incident Type: Backbone Wildfire
Updated: 1:57 hrs. ago
Size: 40,591 Acres
Contained: 6%
Coconino National Forest
U.S. Forest Service
1824 S. Thompson St.
Flagstaff, AZ 86001USFS Shield
Backbone Fire Information
Email: 2021.backbone@firenet.gov
Phone: 928-362-4088
hello sedona nice views
News media that allows articles to be published from that perspective of possibly endangering or enjoying recreational bypassing any USFS directive for closing of forests because of known fire dangers is nuts. We don’t watch news on vacation and seeing a sign that tells us to stay out because it’s closed has meaning. We’re leaving earlier than planned to be safe and others should. God be with you all, pretty city.
A pubic meeting will be at held at 4:30 on July 6 to discuss proposed approval of an 84-apartment complex on Jordan Road in uptown Sedona. Whether you approve or disapprove of amending the Sedona Community Plan to change zoning of the property from single-family to high density multi-family the opportunity to speak out is on the table.
With present closures of USFS land, the recent potential for Sedona to become an inferno has become crystal clear. Have our city planners given thought to an emergency evacuation for Sedona’s current residents? This is only the beginning of summer, just the onset of an excessive possibility of pending peril.
This is a serious situation. Will the dreamers and schemers at City Hall pooh-pooh the notion that “this can’t happen here” and move forward with the potential of even more increased traffic in spite of the results of obvious incompetence of past jurisdictions?
Speak up or shut up. It’s your choice – you – the voters of Sedona who elect these people. Their charge was established when Sedona incorporated to act in the best interest to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Sedona residents. Attend the meeting and/or call or e-mail city council members. Their addresses are available on the city website.
Welcome to the new Biden administration, racists.
Sedona has been classified as racist under the new Home Act because it has no city high rise low income projects and the feds will withhold tax money for roads and infrastructure if you don’t build them. You think I’m kidding? You better get in touch. Your city council will be disbanded and your zoning and building departments will be closed because they represent systemic racism. There will be no rules and regulations to keep black and brown out and you will build to take them in or you will have your oversized greedy property built by slaves and taken from indigenous tribes redistributed equitably and returned to its rightful owners and you will not be compensated for more then the federal government determines equitable. No more HOA or CCR allowed in America because they are white systemic racists systems to keep black and brown people out and economically depressed. No more local white governments, racists. The federal government will decide what’s best for you racist white people. Support the two Democrat senators when they vote on the Home Act and understand white people that you are hateful and manipulative racists. No white person isn’t racist. Not one.
You shouldnt drink and post at the same time…You sound even more deranged.
Hope your hangover isnt to bad this morning?
Didn’t Steve *White* say he knew his property was taken from Indians and guess whose property may be in line to be redistributed first?! Here’s thoughts. Like them or not and could be wrong or right. Get your reparations from him because my reparations get repaid at casinos which is why exclusive rights to build casinos in every state and keep the millions of dollars casinos generate without federal and state control of its distribution is theirs alone.
About that proposed zone change to build apartments. Even if a strong majority speak out against it how likely is it the city council and staff will approve the request anyhow?
Wasn’t the deal supposed to be for our elected officials to support the will of the people? And why then all too often when the votes are counted it amounts to “the will of the people be damned” as arrogance of power takes control and the royalty in their imagined ivory tower seem to think their personal choices are what’s best?
All too often it appears they are swayed by certain voices from C of C and Lodging Council as evidenced by many decisions resulting from controversial issues. To hell with residents. Business As Usual indeed.
In the meantime enjoy the lull as a result of USFS closures. It won’t last forever. The calm before the next storm? Let’s just hope and pray that next storm isn’t a raging wild fire.
crazy days in Sedona
You can fool stupid Americans all the time.
Having read the news from the city, it is with great disappointment that we’ve decided to pass on the quiet house in the Jordan Road scenic area. We had been privately discussing a sale with the owner, and a meeting with two neighbors to the property offered us this site to peruse this morning and we are sad to see that the Jordan Road area is slated for construction and condemnation of its road access system. We can not and will not buy near multiple housing or busy road having been burned with bad government enforcement in our old California neighborhood including uncontrolled commercial development. We have decided to accept the home development near Cottonwood (address deleted by editor) that voted to not be annexed by that town. It has lower taxes and great mountain and desert views. We will visit Sedona instead. Tripper and Mimi Smith, Fresno (deleted by editor)
City Council will declare Jordan Rd. zone change as being compliant with the Community Plan.
Once again, conveniently and selectively that outcome is the prediction here. Any bets it won’t happen?
To hell with the appropriate Community Plan stipulation which should have been properly enforced from the beginning and would have averted this ongoing nonsense about rezoning for increased density.
When timeshares and other lodging complexes were initially proposed there was an employee accommodation compliance factor considered. That being a required number or percentage
of “work-force housing” to be included with each project as is common with other resort towns.
Of course developers moaned, whined, and cried hardship cuz they would lose a few bucks on rooms. So how, pray tell, did developers wiggle out of that one? Easy peasy.
Those in charge pledged fulfillment of the terms by promising to accommodate required “affordable housing” on off-site locations. Oh really? And how did that work out?
Was the program ever monitored? How many actual “affordable housing units” presently exist in compliance with the “alternate” plan relating to affordable/work force housing provided by developers?
If rules had been appropriately enforced would there be such (unproven) demand at this point in time?
Now the responsibility of providing workforce housing will become an item on the city budget? Funded with municipal money? But of course! Why should we expect less from con artist professionals steered by certain authoritative figures from the lodging council and chamber of commerce? Skim-scam business as usual all right.
And WE are to believe anything told from the confines of the sanctuary commonly known by many flatlanders and residents as “_hitty Hall”???? Fill in the blank. Three guesses and the first two don’t count.
https://www.towncharts.com/Arizona/Housing/Sedona-city-AZ-Housing-data.html#Figure5
You’re being sold a pack of lies Sedona about state of rentals affordable housing. There’s plenty sharing house rent like me. Been doing it from 1978, plenty of home shares word of mouth. We like communal lifestyling because Sedona rentals owned by owners not living here because they’ve got houses they like better until they’re older before come here. They want people taking care of the places and Sedona renters aren’t low income lowlifes but honest workers without family inheritances or Silicon tech money, we make out fine on parttime or fulltime work, we keep things here better than good. Just is the way it is ok that’s the way we were raised. Feels government people wanting to shove us out of jobs to bring in lowlifes working cash under the table working long hours getting underpaid because they can’t complain and keep job like I can complain making them follow rules. Plenty of shortterm rentals go longterm if asked by people like me and my crowd. Keeping it real Sedona Times.
Moral of increased zoning proposals? Really no different than having approved Tlaquepaque North compounding Sedona’s traffic snarl with pedestrians crossing a state highway. More density on Jordan Road or any uptown increased density will only make matters worse. Oak Creek Canyon still remains high on the list to close at any minute in case of fire resulting from lightening strikes or careless snoopy-snoops.
This should be a no-brainer. No to rezoning on Jordan and in particular the even higher-density development under consideration at the approximate site of the former Dutchman’s Cove on Art Barn Road. Those approving such hazards should be held responsible now and in the future for creating unsafe conditions. How about that for consideration to the worthless Sedona Community Plan (forever subjected to stupid amendments).
OMG here we go again. Sedona City Council is considering a program to finance workforce home purchases meaning = down payment and closing costs. Big government = entering into the real estate business? It isn’t enough for them to continue to pursue rezoning for ADUs, because now the airheads are contemplating getting involved with lending money for property purchases in the ENTIRE Verde Valley when they can’t even resolve Sedona’s traffic problem?! Go figure.
Remember to count your blessings that Sedona isn’t burdened with a city property tax. It’s quite enough to find out the big time operators have no intention to sunset that last temporary sales tax increase which was part of the deal when it was approved. [That tax is different from the bed tax controversy allowing millions of dollars to be wasted with the chamber of commerce.]
After giving this considerable thought we opted to make a comment here. We live in the Phoenix area but most assuredly look forward to and take pleasure in weekend visits to Sedona. We enjoy a one or two night stay and that includes meals out, except for the snacks and maybe picnic lunches we prepare for our glorious hikes. Ha! What a joke. Having checked out comments on social media there was assurance that everything in Sedona was open and doing business as usual (subject of this article.)
Well, that is NOT true. After arriving and checking in at our destination stop over we drove to our favorite hiking trail only to find it was closed! Why didn’t the fools posting on social media include that little fact? We learned from Sedona locals that one of the people who posted such an inviting comment was your vice mayor!!!!!!! If that’s true, that’s just wrong.
We admire the USFS for having the foresight to close down access during this dreadful fire potential but surely do not respect those who mislead with such foolish statements as Sedona being up and running – all businesses open – an invitation to come visit. Totally and shamefully not true and false advertising in our opinions.
Prescott National Forest access better than Sedona Oak Creek Flagstaff +not crowded +better views +trail maintenance superior
Just a heads up the Prescott National Forest is close also!
Happy July 4th to the greatest nation on earth and its greatest people. If you don’t believe it than you are its problem and will never be its strength. Maya Angelou
Sedona budget must allocate for fire and fire damages? What help can we expect? Homeowners insurance provides a fraction.
Appreciate knowing.
Now with the 4th of July hoop-de-doo behind us let’s not forget the forthcoming meeting relating to rezoning uptown @GOOD IDEA? BAD IDEA – June 28th.
Speak up or shut up. It’s now or never, Folks. Once the ball starts rolling there will be no stopping it. Have you checked out the progress of the latest “chicken coops” on W.89 ? Sedona’s look of the future? SHAMEFUL!
Reread the Community Plan P & Z Commissioners, Mayor & City Council members. Isn’t there something about preserving open space and maintaining small town character? Approve this and you should all be confined to living in the chicken coops (our opinions).
Saw some local complainers about VRBO Airbnb and other online real estate rentals. It takes short term Rentals to lessen the grip that corporate builders have on Sedona rentals.
Let me tell you it makes a difference for people on fixed incomes to have options to not lose their homes and pay climbing taxes by welcoming short term guests.
But putting up with a bad house group rental is being handled in Phoenix and effects felt on that market. VRBO passed rules about event housing that has cut complaints in half during the past 6 months. They are reacting to neighbors and governments and that’s good.
If you see a party house report it. It’s illegal and the owners if offsite will appreciate your property management oversight.
It takes everyone in the village to protect it. You shouldn’t have to lose your rights to rent a home because of a few bad apples who want government interference. Toss the bad renters out. You have that power because you can call police and there are already laws on the books that the police can use. Go online to the rental websites and lodge complaints. Call the chamber and complain.
Hotels have party rooms and the same issues. You don’t get to control bad hotels and motels like you can short term rentals.
Support short term rentals for your own rights to make money off an asset if you need it.
Awful ugly houses ruining views. Feels like cheap trickling in. Could ban cars except locals cars and mandatory use golf carts then bingo traffic problems solved.
A design movement that emphasizes an organic marriage of street life, local businesses, and neighborly gathering spots. – Kevin McGeever
Uptown doesn’t need a parking garage if we’re trying to keep it walkable. City has paid a fortune for crosswalks, roundabouts and paths and now they want to take money and destroy uptown by filling it with cars. Parking lots don’t take cars off the roads and streets, they do the opposite. They drive past the parking garage and circle and invade neighborhoods looking for free parking. Fact. Ask any reputable city planner. We are a non auto friendly city and that’s how it should be to remain healthy and do our part for climate change.
We need one story single family homes of 1200-2,400 sf not urban ghetto or future homeless squatter boxes. There aren’t jobs for this development and the taxes are way high here and the schools suck and it doesn’t provide sustainable jobs. Build a hostel and put in the same number of rooms if you want Sedona to have appropriate affordable housing. It cheapens the high end draw which keeps us employed. We need more mobile homes if you want affordable housing, they’re far better than overpriced houses and look nicer and are equivalent to full size homes with full upper end amenities. This development is crap. Even Flagstaff said no way.
The Scar of Modern Urban Planning
Publisher please visit http://www.strongtowns.org for article accreditation. Thank you.
Modern urban planning has scarred us. Change should be good. But over the last century, we’ve reconfigured our cities around the automobile. Because old forms became obsolete, because infrastructure “investments” meant devaluing the urban core and turning buildings into garages and parking lots, because we watched our communal wealth being destroyed, and because modern building codes and zoning regulations prevent us from building more of our best stuff, change has been bad.
Stiletto: a short dagger with a tapering blade. The comments reflected here are a result of viewing the P & Z Meeting yesterday afternoon and reflect my own opinion(s).
To the people who cared enough and took time to attend the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting yesterday afternoon (7/6), that was your reward. A knife in the back when the “commissioners” voted 5 to 2 and approved the amendment to the Sedona Community Plan to accommodate the developer’s proposal for the 84 multi-unit project on Jordan Road.
The meeting warranted a standing room attendance with most of the public speakers opposing the CP amendment. This meeting did NOT approve an actual zone change – just opened the door for it down the road. It didn’t take long for the smooth talking attorney representing the developer to convince those supposedly there to represent Sedona residents to somehow con(?) the commissioners. It appeared evident the proposal was backed by city staff. The amendment has now set a precedent for each and every request for future increased density zoning. Wait, watch, and see!
As the glib developer’s attorney dangled a carrot of promises of “affordable” housing to be part of the deal (and where have we heard that before?) he consistently (many, many times over) made reference to complying to a “regional plan” – averting the very reason for the meeting: To amend the Sedona COMMUNITY Plan supposedly having NOTHING to do with a Regional Plan!
If you don’t believe that reference, go the the Sedona CITY (not regional) web site, check out P & Z Meetings, and watch the entire dog and pony show on a video unless the cowards have had it removed. Oh, and don’t miss or overlook the possibility mentioned for future city help in financing affordable housing. (Workforce housing?)
Even in the event this particular builder decides to pass on his proposed development, by having the Sedona Community Plan (NOT regional plan) amended to cater to his proposal will now allow him to resell the Jordan Road property at, no doubt, a tasty profit if he so chooses.
The new director of the “Sedona” Chamber of Commerce was perhaps the only speaker strikingly speaking in support of the C.P. amendment thus indicating she spoke on behalf of their 800 members!! How many of those members are within Sedona City Limits, collect Sedona “city” taxes, and legitimately are entitled to be counted? Yet another reason for locals to boycott chamber member businesses.
Contrary to the Sedona based chamber of commerce, the Sedona Verde Valley Sierra Club stood proudly and voted against the amendment to the Sedona Community Plan. Maybe the “Verde Valley” influenced the impact of their group because they actually DO stand up and admit they represent members beyond Sedona City Limits? A bit of unfair prejudice there considering the ongoing bias for the “regional” but inappropriately named Sedona Chamber of Commerce.
Prior to the P & Z commissioners casting their votes, maybe it was the two that denied approval who wisely suggested there wasn’t enough information offered at this meeting to warrant the Community Plan amendment. Ha! A lot of good that did.
Clearly this project and the amendment process was brought to City Council based on behind the scenes meetings with Sedona staff because it was abundantly clear they recommended approval.
What a shame to shove something through (again) when quite possibly just by answering a few logical questions at a future meeting might have provided enough information for clarity to satisfy or at least modify the rash and hasty decision that sailed through during a long, tedious chit-chat which most likely had been decided before the meeting was ever called.
This tactic isn’t new to Sedona. After incorporation it didn’t take long for prime locations along the West 89 corridor to be bought up by developers, rezoned, and resold for big bucks. How do you think the Safeway, Basha’s, Harkins, and every other commercial development along that corridor came into being?
One of the many indications of the foolish decision for Sedona to incorporate in order to maintain a small town character? (wha’dat?)
People park on the hard stone dirt ground called deserts, multi use land where we don’t need cement and black top. In off seasons the lots are usable for craft shows and camping and stargazing and for nothing as the land can rest and rejuvenate. We drag our chairs out at night and sit on lots to stargaze and gather. Can’t do that in a parking garage with lights on all night long and snakes and people inside getting into trouble. The cops don’t want it and neither should the residents. We don’t need black top driveways or more roads or multi story garages. Enough already!
IMO that garage is for the hotels as payback for them putting up with residents higher aspirations and restrictions. It’s a gift from city hall to their corporations from us taxpayers. Not once have you heard their customers are restricted from using it. Better to put a mixed use shopping residential use there, but that would be forward thinking and not helping a specific group. Not once have you heard the hotels need to pay for it.
Usually it’s my policy to frown on comments from people who withhold their name(s). However, after reviewing that P & Z meeting tip-off from another Sedona “peon” my mind has been changed. The brave folks that took time to speak publicly were essentially scorned by the blatant disregard for their time and input.
This decision, for a Community Plan Amendment, was far more reaching than if this body displaying arrogance of power had supported an actual change in zoning for this specific development! Oh no – THAT wasn’t enough. By amending the Community Plan any forthcoming requests for low to high density rezoning can from here on be awarded based on this amendment to the Sedona Community Plan.
No – not so fast! This must yet be approved by the Sedona City Council. However, if the P & Z sailed it through, what’s to stop the “council” from doing the same thing?
And as for the BS relating to “deed restrictions” – ha – just that = BS! How many of us have in our own deed restrictions “single family residential” to have been overthrown by another arrogant voice of authority – that of Arizona State Gov. Ducey – who trashed city ordinances relating to short-term (vacation rentals) and made them legal state wide. The one thing this “city’ had going for them – enforcing vacation rental violations and it was shot down by a higher authority.
It’s above disgusting and most troubling to anticipate this violation of rezoning within our subdivisions, property purchased with good faith and acceptance of single-family dwellings, can in the future be tossed out to favor high-dense development on vacant lots or future residential replacements suddenly allowed by revoking the conditions under which we purchased our properties.
Are those we officially elected, unlike the P & Z Commissioners, so brazen as to slam concerned citizens, now and in the future, by likewise approving an amendment to the Sedona Community Plan which will allow that to happen? Watch for this issue to be on a City Council agenda in the near future.
Of course, based on the inconsideration shown to those who spoke before the P & Z Commissioners, it’s an exercise in futility to go against this city staff and their negativity toward Sedona residents. All they apparently exist for is to please developers and tourists. To hell with us. unless we are forced to recall and replace our elected officials who will provide a city staff to represent US – the voters who assigned them their seats! AND REALLY GO FOR CHANGE!!!
Sedona doesn’t have enough water for a project of this magnitude and it affects our underground spring system. Period. Call the state and feds and Dept of resources and lodge an EPA resource violation. They need city water and wastewater. We don’t have the capacity. Drawing more water from underground means more earthquakes and more forest loss due to lower water tables which means less green and more brown land and trees.
Good idea Sierra club and residents. Need to hire a geo engineer and hydro engineer that has nothing to do with this city or area. There are state licensed engineers in multiple environmental and water resources and nobody in Sedona or area is or is trustworthy.
Wasn’t the lack of respect shown to Sedona residents who DARED to speak up at the P & Z meeting about their opposition to amending the community plan aka OPEN HOUSE FOR REZONING beyond despicable? If this isn’t an eye opener for those who live here then are you either blind or just plain stupid?
Please pay attention to what’s going on here. Call or send emails to your elected city council members (NOT councilors)!!! although they most likely think they are judging by the way they ignore the dumb people who voted them in.
Sierra club doesn’t have any clout, but the Sedona 30 does. Interview them and find out who does and doesn’t want this and get them involved. Good idea about going after them for the water. Colorado and Hoover dam areas failing due to poor management. Organize Jordan Rd area. This will ruin the character of the museum and Hollywood character of Sedona.
Clearly the five on P & Z don’t give a hoot about water usage, fire danger, traffic control, and/or protecting Sedona’s scenic value and small town character. All they apparently can mistakenly think about is the possibility of a vague number of promised(?) affordable housing units? And where have we heard that before? From developers of Sedona resorts ever since day one of incorporation. What happened to that commitment? The answer remains with the lack of workforce housing.
Another skim-scam maneuver going on here for moneygrabbing developers at the cost to residents of quality of life let alone unsafe conditions for many reasons? At the moment danger from looming forest fires during slim chances for monsoon rain remain in the forecast but with high probability of lightening strikes from dry storms.
What are chances of holding those responsible for approving this nonsense legally responsible and liable for damages resulting from their careless decisions?
Amend the Community Plan!? But of course. Anything for the money grabbers to meet THEIR selfish needs under the guise of unfulfilled production of affordable housing is the general predictable result, but this time at the expense of ALL future development via clever maneuvering with the Sedona Community Plan. Sneaky? You decide.