Community

Community rejects ADOT 89A pedestrian lighting plan

By Tommy Acosta | Sedona Verde Valley Times

Sedona, AZ-- A contingent of Sedona residents and community leaders converged on City Hall on June 26.

They were there to express their concern over a recent study session conducted by the Sedona City Council regarding an ADOT proposal to install 76 light poles and lights along 89A.

Citizens and members of Keep Sedona Beautiful, though relieved the council announced future study sessions on the proposal, criticized the possibility of installing such lighting during the public input section of the council meeting, noting the negative impact it would have on Sedona’s night skies and offering alternatives.

Sedona resident Doug Blackwell suggested pedestrian crossings be equipped with “on-demand” lighting rather than lamp poles to lessen the impact on night skies and better protect pedestrians.

“Installing 76 light poles on 89A will not do a thing to increase the pedestrian IQ in this town,” Mr. Blackwell said. “We need to encourage ADOT to install on-demand lighting, lights that illuminate when pedestrians approach the crosswalk. It will be more obvious to motorists than lights that are on all the time. On demand-lighting is the crown jewel of public safety, and Sedona, being the crown jewel of Arizona, deserves it.”

Cliff Ochser, owner of Evening Sky Tours, a local company that takes people out for astronomy tours of starry nights that depends on light-free skies, pleaded with the council to consider the impact of the proposal on Sedona night skies.

“Please make your decision in the spirit of making Sedona a model to protect night skies and provide safety for its citizens,” he said.

Robert Carabell, vice president of KSB, said the current ADOT proposal calls for the use of “high-sodium” lighting, a use he claimed is in violation of a Sedona ordinance.

“High-sodium lighting uses a lot more electricity,” he said. “Low sodium lighting uses a lot less electricity, creates much less bounce-back of light into the sky and is more environmentally friendly.”

Sedona resident Harry Newman said Sedona was recently noted in a magazine as one of the top 100 places a person should visit in their lifetime.

“What we have here is the crown jewel of Arizona,” Mr. Newman said. “We are special to the state, county and all over the world. Tell ADOT their proposal is not acceptable. It has to be something that when people come to Sedona they will say ‘this is what we expected.’”

Keep Sedona Beautiful President Barbara Litrell thanked the council for announcing that future study sessions will be held on the matter and noted KSB’s commitment to the safety of Sedona citizens.

She also noted a need for lower speed limits in Sedona and demanded ADOT come to the table with a better proposal.

“It seems ADOT did not present the alternative we need,” Mrs. Litrell said. “We need creative solutions for Sedona. People are bemoaning the loss of our small-town feel.”

No one spoke in favor of the proposed lighting plan.

No specific date was announced for a future study session on lighting for 89A.

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