SedonaEye.com columnist Eddie S. Maddock reminds Sedona AZ politicians and voters that the USFS continues to protect sacred lands surrounding its city limits. The renamed “Cultural Park” was once part of reservation land, traded and then redesignated by Sedona politicians for “public use.” Developers and city politicians now want to bulldoze and build government subsidized housing on this sacred land citing a “perceived” need for it, just as the Cultural Park was once itself a failed “perceived” city use plan.
Sedona AZ – Is it possible this small and beautiful dot on the universal map – Sedona, Arizona – has had any issues which have not been disputed at least to some extent?
The story of the Cultural Park has been adequately documented for years now, and yet the scenic land upon which the failed venue thrived – for a short period of time – continues to be the source for an ongoing tug of war.
The birth of the Cultural Park was largely generated by a “perceived” need to hold outdoor annual functions such as “Jazz on the Rocks,” a jazz series whose performances were successfully received and well-attended at the Sedona Posse Grounds Park: Today, Posse Grounds Park remains as the scenic area designated for most Sedona small town events such as July Fourth, however, and in time, the Cultural Park became less attractive for larger and more significant venues with its stiff competition by high-profile performances offered at the popular Cliff Castle Casino.
At one time the Cultural Park was part of the Hopi Footprints Migration Area and considered “sacred land” to the Apache, being part of an Indian reservation. The USFS continues to protect the area from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)) requests, and doesn’t divulge where specific sites are, what was on the property and or what has been removed. Originally designated as “Open Space Preservation/Conservation” on the Sedona Community Plan Use Map, it was soon amended to “Public/Semi-public” allegedly “in order to accommodate the community cultural facilities and amenities.”
Lack of affordable housing has become increasingly a national problem. It has become a high-profile subject not only in Sedona, but the entire Verde Valley as well. Sedona united with Cottonwood apparently, jointly agreeing to hire a “housing manager” to represent both communities towards a successful approach to what was acknowledged as a “regional problem.” On November 26, 2021, Sedona hired a “housing manager.” Does Cottonwood stand “united” with Sedona and share the cost of the service performance of that employee?
Reflecting on decisions of the past, the Nepenthe housing project in the Sedona city limits was approved as “workforce/affordable” and, yet, for some reason that specific purpose must have been left out of the development agreement. Wonder why?
Hmmm . . . that’s just one example of questionable decisions contributing to the present housing “shortage.”
In addition, over the years relinquishing proposed requirements for Sedona resorts to include a certain number of on-site living areas for employees was jerked around and “alternative” promises allowed for providing off-site affordable accommodations were all too often approved – and then never enforced.
How many of “those” promised alternative affordable facilities actually exist to this day, if any? And now, fast forward to the Cultural Park presently being considered as an “investment” by the city of Sedona for – guess what – to be “rezoned to accommodate affordable housing.”
Since the issue has definitely been deemed as a “Regional” problem, will that same “Region” be required to help foot the bill for the alleged purchase of the Cultural Park by the city of Sedona?
Will the entire “Region” have the opportunity to benefit from more affordable housing considering that people do have jobs in Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome, Camp Verde, and elsewhere in the “regional” Verde Valley?
Will Sedona continue to be the “cash cow” to provide affordable housing for the entire “region” because now it has a “Housing Manager” at City Hall?
Prior to 1993, the Sedona Community Plan only supported USFS land trades for public/semi-public uses, open spaces or parks; Amendments to the Community Plan have served to enable land trades to be facilitated and completed.
It’s been reported that the city-owned land across from the Sedona Wastewater Treatment Plant off West State Route 89A, locally referred to as “The Dells,” will soon be the subject of a study for potential housing on nearly 200 acres. The city of Sedona has budgeted $75,000 for the study – some of which may be done in-house. If that is in fact the case, will the cost of this endeavor be shared with “The Region?”
Because the wastewater treatment location is obviously a more centrally located area has serious consideration been given to working with the “Region” towards seeking a valid direction for solutions, including funding, for solving the “perceived” housing issue? Instead of proposing the purchase of the Sedona Cultural Park?
Why shouldn’t Sedona benefit from contributing necessary acreage as consideration for its participation in a joint venture and encourage other jurisdictions to foot the bill for development of more affordable housing on existing available land? So – it would require approval from Yavapai County. Why should that be an issue when this is also a “county” problem and doesn’t just exist within Sedona City Limits?
If Sedona can afford to purchase the Cultural Park property, why wouldn’t they consider returning it to the United States Forest Service to be maintained as “Open Space?”
Or better yet wouldn’t a National Scenic Area designation be more appropriate and also even more in compliance with the Community Plan to preserve open space?
Or maybe the situation might best be summed up with the following words as written by Toby McLeod, April 4, 2020:
“Hopi Prophecy – A Timeless Warning”
“. . . . . .having worried about an impending apocalypse, one seems to be upon us now, as a wounded Mother Earth humbles her human children. Thomas Banyacya usually warned of natural disasters like storm and earthquakes, fires and floods, lightening and hurricanes – clear signs that nature was responding to abusive, careless humans. As I reviewed the two Las Vegas talks I found that, sure enough, he warned of ‘more sickness that can’t be cured for a long time’ during an era when ‘the seasons are going to change.’ “
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – does that ring a bell?
Shortsightedness has been the mission of councils and staff because with foresight no fat bureaucracy is necessary.
AMEN @Tom.
Another example: Tlaquepaque pedestrian crossing.
Isn’t this just a bunch of more political nonsense? Since it’s been admitted the housing situation is regional, then why the heck doesn’t Sedona, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, etc work together on a solution?
For example, the vast acreage owned by City of Sedona in the vicinity of the waste water treatment plant. Driving towards Sedona the views are beautiful. When we lived in other areas before moving to Sedona how many of us could afford to live in Beverly Hills (as an example). Why must Sedona rezone for increased density when one of the main reasons for incorporation was to preserve “open space.”
Get a grip. Employed people must live where it IS affordable. Why should it be the responsibility of incorporated areas to lower standards when other options ARE
Editors, hit the wrong button prior to finishing my last sentence and cut off following;
. . . ARE available? (acreage between Sedona & Cottonwood and between Cottonwood to Camp Verde remain available)
OK it’s happening.
City Council’s present direction? To turn the sacred land of the Cultural Park into a parking lot for the homeless.
Pay attention all you illegal immigrants entering this country on a daily basis. You’ve just been offered an open invitation to come to Sedona and don’t forget to bring your unknown diseases with you.
Good news for a city that has no doctors! *Existing ones are on overload and no longer taking new patients.*
Weep, Iron Eyes Coty. Weep . . .
Let it rest
Beto sucks
We looked it up and Sedona’s mission statement indicates the following:
“To serve the community by making Sedona the best place to live, work, play and visit. We promise to provide our stakeholders with opportunities to build and grow their business. We promise to be good stewards of Sedona and to sustain a reasonable balance between quality of life and economic interests.”
So why then does the Cultural Park property continue to be the topic of high density development?
Even if we acknowledge the need for affordable housing, it isn’t just a Sedona problem. We are presently living in a world of high inflation. Check your grocery and gasoline bills.
However in the situation of Sedona’s affordable property, why must the city continually ignore the vast acreage already owned in the vicinity of the waste water treatment plant?
Why continue to ruin and devastate the few remaining open space areas, a primary reason Sedona became an attraction for visitors in the first place?
When speaking with tourists directly we find that many of them say things like “It’s nice but too congested or we’ll NOT be back.”
Come on P & Z Commissioners, City Council and, yes, Staff. Get your acts together and put your efforts towards logical solutions to solve problems.
The housing situation could be greatly simplified if and when you take a serious look at city owned property already available – and there’s plenty of it between here and Cottonwood.
Iron Eyes Cody, you are not weeping alone. Sadly little by little the beauty of Sedona is being destroyed.
To make it even more pathetic is there are other solutions like the Waste Water Treatment acreage.
Go back to other areas in the country. How many could have afforded to live in, for example, Beverly Hills California?
Once the bulldozers get busy at the former Cultural Park property, another axe will have favored the ongoing policy and determination to choke the charm out of our scenic wonderland.
Sad, Iron Eyes Cody, sad . . . .
The mere thought of approving that Cultural Park property as a parking lot for any reason is disgusting. That acreage was designated for community events but P & Z had no problem last week changing the “zoning” to accommodate proposed future plans as a parking lot for the homeless.
Why Cultural Park when vast acreage is available at The Dells? What about other options besides Cultural Park or Dells? How about Uptown or Canyon? Les Springs? Foothills? Build house there and one house here? ADU there and an ADU here? Build parking there and extra here?
Just wait. Karma lives. Desecration of sacred land is unforgivable.
On the web Sedona city councilors bc you don’t know? We Don’t need parking becauae 4 months friggin fruitcakes&&&&&&
What month is best to visit Sedona?
Sedona’s most popular seasons are spring and fall. Crowds flock to the Southwestern city between March and May and from September to November for beautiful temperatures perfect for outdoor exploration. Other months aren’t popular because weather isn’t living or tourism friendly.
Thnk you Sedona for the cultural Park parking I’m illegal and I work in town. I love Sedona. Thanks for giving me the place to go to bathroom and have a little dignity. Some residents here seem very hateful.
How impressive are you Thnk You.
Thanks for your post. May I suggest next time you post go easy on the drinking. Beforehand……. cheers
This admin caught in lies with the Consumer Price Index report release of 18% cost of living figures for the past year and these people despise seniors and vets collecting Social Security and pensions by giving 3.2 % raise to cover inflation. #NODEMOCRATS2024
Sedona council will collect taxes they don’t need to run city and it’s time to unelect them and its cronies and get a clean slate and lower cost of living for us.
must mean Thnk You needs to lay off pipe and whiskey. Lmao . NO cultural park development needed herein.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Headlines today! Mayorkas IMPEACHED! Hallelujah! Republicans will turn off the Democrats and other global money funds by demanding accountability for illegals swarming our borders and ruining Arizona. Stand up with Republicans on border security issues now before it’s too late. No amnesty and no citizenship for any illegal ahead of real asylum applications.
Cold here
Sedona leadership is excruciatingly lacking in common sense and foresight. Inflation higher than expected and if you listen to media they think border is secure even while public schools in California closed because they can’t handle the swarms of kids and homeless showing up. This is wartime madness behavior in our country, not civilized First nation status. Eddie Maddock seems the only outlet for rationalized objectivity in this city.
“Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell ’em, “Certainly, I can!” Then get busy and find out how to do it.”
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Are you sure that wasn’t a quote from the Three Stooges?
For years, the Radical Democrats have used every scheme, advantage, and dirty tricks to keep office they ruined golden goose red rock Sedona and golden California.
nothing good comes out of this game
Kudos this site
David & Joyce Williams says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation. This is a preview; your comment will be visible after it has been approved.
February 24, 2024 at 7:48 am
No thanks to Go Daddy, Big Daddy, or whatever new force has taken over Sedona Eye, Dooms Day has already hit Sedona Eye – in our opinions – and it isn’t even year 2024 yet! So sad. Too bad.
It’s actually BlowDaddy, because they suck.
OOPS – of course it’s year 2024 but getting accustomed to writing a new year is never easy. Must come with age. Anyhow, we have a hard time keeping up with the confusion on SE – comments and no new articles. Oh well, we do our best to remain loyal.
Amen
Hello Sedona politicians; Apple just shut down its billions of dollars Titan EV car development program and people will be laid off and others reassigned to new jobs. Huge loss. Focus Sedona on facts and not your blindside desires for electric cars and charging stations that overwhelm electric grids and are unreliable and cost more money to own and maintain.
SomeONE has been very busy posting nonsense.. Funny stuff
So, Big Daddy, where’s the comment from Peter Hordgrind?
Received this editors: Thanks for letting it be shared with public readers. Your SedonaEye.com is welcome in our home. Here goes: Email received: thanks editors: If we never hear about Senator giving a State of Union response, we should know but never hear about her, how’s that freedom of press? Alexa said she’s Senator from Alabama. By the way, chose this article because its about politics over rights to honor land use:
(Email)
..”This is Katie Britt, as my husband and I sit and talk about the issues facing our nation – the issues facing our children – we are worried about the country we are leaving to our kids. With Joe Biden at the helm, crime is surging, the economy is in the tank, and our southern border is virtually nonexistent.
As I prepare to give the Republican response to the State of the Union address, I want to send Joe Biden and the far-left Democrats this very clear message: Your time is up.
America is founded on the principles of faith, family, and freedom. And I’m fighting to keep it that way. Join me..” (Email excerpt ended.)
dems seem to have had a coming to Jesus moment that the past 3 yr border invasion exists! Joe goes down in history as the most corrupt incompetent president ever, Proof in the pudding allowing bureaucrats to set policy is wrong.
Chinese wiped out a million Americans with Covid without declaring war on us and we need to be prepared again. China needs our land and buildings and homes undamaged to import millions of Chinese to replace us. Simple, easy, effective. No messy costly cleanup like Ukraine and white and black and brown people are easy to spot in the elimination game. BTW nothing said is racist or wrong, I’m half Asian from San Francisco, they’d eliminate me for being half, read history and know culture.
Please write a check Sheepie.
Texas is the FIRST STATE IN HISTORY to build its own wall to stop illegal immigrants from invading our country. Since Texas took control of Eagle Pass, illegal border crossings are down to THREE PEOPLE A DAY, compared to thousands flowing through months prior.
“Knowledge is, in every Country, the surest basis of public happiness. …To the security of a free Constitution it contributes in various ways: …by teaching the people themselves to know and to value their own rights; to discern and provide against invasions of them; to distinguish between oppression and the necessary exercise of lawful authority.”
– George Washington, First Annual Message
January 8, 1790
56 Percent of States enacted Constitutional Carry, you know? Heard it on news? Turn off progressive media elites who don’t think citizens deserve protections but criminals and illegals do, their good idea? Don’t put up with spending money on tourists here, send chamber back to a few rooms they pay for in town to a real landlord. Win win.
A radical, Marxist movement has corrupted nearly every American institution and trickles down here in Sedona. It must be stopped and I’ll be supporting President Trump and America First patriots up and down the ballot in November. Free in America.
Pres Biden owes the nation and the Supreme Court apologies for his poor judgment and behavior during the State of the Union. Nobody in government ESPECIALLY THE PRESIDENT GETS TO BERATE WITH TOTAL BELLIGERENCE OUR SUPREME LIBERTARIANS IN FRONT OF THE WORLD. My Canadian parents were disgusted that would be said of scholars above his IQ level. Sedonans aren’t fools like he thinks.
ya meant his great state of hate speech lmao they hate America but love their absolute power over you and me lockstepping under their global rule madness, got to go Joe
We’re Screwed If Joe Runs With Kamala Again
Mean Michelle Is Loser Bet Nobody Wants Her Even Her Husband
Other Loser Bet Pretty Boy-No Brain Cali Greg
We Need Winners Joe Manchin & Kirsten Sinema
Oh Boy!!! Someone’s been drinking WAY too much koolaid…Too funny
Good morning Sedona. People know Cultural Park football game never improved on its original team builder, nature. Stop the madness with airport and roads and bridges and trafficking. We don’t need ADUs, we need nature.
Gulp…Gulp sheepie
“You can’t have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time.”
CHARLES KETTERING
America was past tense beautiful likenSedona
I love how you try to be important(lol) with your angry nonsense remarks… Seems like your the angry irritated No power Individual.. You must be so proud of your accomplishments on SE.. LOL you must be so frustrated the way your life turned out.. I actually feel sorry for you.
lmao I feel sorry for you bc that’s the best ya got after old man tells PA audience next day to send him to Congress? loser
1928: St. Francis Dam Disaster
The St. Francis Dam northwest of Los Angeles collapsed around midnight on March 12, 1928, sending a wall of water flooding into the communities below. Nearly 500 people were killed, making it one of the largest losses of life in California history. A Los Angeles newspaper ran front page stories with photos the following day.
Appreciate submission went up.