Allen Elfman with Visit Sedona TV, MYAZTV and Sedona.Biz interviews Sedona Mayoral Candidate, John Martinez

Sedona, AZ — In an exclusive interview by Allen Elfman of Visit Sedona TV and MYAZTV, Sedona Mayoral candidate John Martinez lays out his views and plans on how he would work to make Sedona better for all should he be elected.

Check out our video interview below to learn more of Mr. Martinez’s vision for Sedona.

Background

In a recent development regarding Sedona’s land use, local voices have raised concerns and suggestions that are reshaping the debate on urban planning in the city.

Critics have questioned the Sedona City Council’s decision to purchase a 41-acre property for $23 million, a move that also added a $10 million bond against future tax revenue.

The contentious land, known as Culturural Park, has been at the center of this debate, particularly given its proximity to a larger 200-acre tract already owned by the city towards Cottonwood.

Amidst the discourse, there is a growing call for the Cultural Park land to be leased to Cultural Park 2.0, an organization that aims to rejuvenate the park’s amphitheater, once a crown jewel of the area.

This approach aligns with visions from the 2014 Community Plan, which highlighted the importance of community-driven, culturally rich spaces. Despite the scarcity of vacant land in Sedona, the council’s purchase of the land was made with no clear plan for its use, a point of contention for those who see the substantial investment in geological and topographical challenges at the park as a misstep.

Meanwhile, advocates for a more sustainable and economically viable use of land are pointing to The Dells, an area considered more suitable for workforce housing due to its favorable geology and potential for lower development costs.

The vision for The Dells includes not just housing but also community amenities such as ponds, playgrounds, shops, and cafes, fostering a vibrant sense of place in line with the environmental and economic sustainability goals set out in the 2014 Community Plan.

The proposal for The Dells is to leverage the city’s existing land assets and offer incentives for developers through low-cost leases and the absorption of impact fees by the city’s Housing Fund, which currently boasts a balance of over $8 million. Advocates argue that this strategy would reduce construction costs and, consequently, make housing more affordable, a critical step toward addressing the pressing need for workforce and affordable housing in Sedona.

As the debate continues, the question remains whether the city should act as a landlord or focus on facilitating development that meets the community’s needs while preserving the unique environmental character that defines Sedona. #SedonaCulturePark #SedonaCityCouncil #LandUseDebate #UrbanPlanning #CulturePark2Point0 #SedonaAmphitheater #TheDellsSedona #WorkforceHousing #SedonaCommunityPlan #EconomicSustainability #EnvironmentalSensitivity #SedonaDevelopment #AffordableHousingInitiative #SedonaUrbanGrowth #CivicEngagement #SedonaLandAssets #CommunitySpaces #2024Election #JohnMartinez #AllenElfman #VisitSedonaTV #MYAZTV