Letter to the Editor: El Rojo Ranch Victory

By Trish Jahnke
(January 17, 2019)

Congratulations to everyone who played a part in this wonderful P&Z victory.

It has been a long 5 month haul, but each of you was absolutely necessary for the vote last night at 5:15 to NOT RECOMMEND THE REZONING.

The crowd went wild!!!!! Lots of smiles, hugs and a few tears.

Let’s celebrate, breathe deep, play some, and rest.

AND remember, this is just the first step. The ACTUAL VOTE TO DENY THE REZONING will come when this is heard before the Board of Supervisors next month.

Here is how that will go.

This P&Z vote to NOT RECOMMEND the REZONING is sent on to the Supervisors.

It is JUST a recommendation. But hugely important that they said NO.

The Supervisor’s FEB 6 Prescott work session on this rezoning issue has been canceled.

SO, ON FEB. 20 IN COTTONWOOD, THE SUPERVISORS WILL HEAR A FULL PRESENTATION FROM THE DEVELOPERS,

THEN, ON THE SAME DAY, FEB 20, WE WILL HAVE OUR TURN TO SPEAK . WE WILL NEED TO SHOW UP AND SPEAK OUR COMMENTS ALL OVER AGAIN.

AT THE CONCLUSION OF OUR SPEAKING, THE DEVELOPERS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO REBUTT SOME OF OUR CONCERNS. THEN THE SUPERVISORS WILL VOTE.

It is this FEB 20 vote that will actually settle the issue. So we must stay active and involved.

You have been amazing. I don’t think there has ever been this kind of turnout before. Your letters, talking about this to friends, getting it out on social media- All of this has made a huge difference.

So let’s keep it up. 4 more weeks. We can do that!

We will need more letters to the Supervisors. Get some new folks to write. Write a supplement to your previous letter yourself.

Keep up the interest. Let our ELECTED Supervisors know we are still here, still adamant and still paying attention.

This is what our Community is all about. It feels good.

And once ELS is gone, HOW can we assist the current owner of El Rojo Grande Ranch in selling to someone who has a vision for this land that we can ALL rally behind. Let’s get creative.

So for now, rest up. Then with new vigor, let’s get back to it and be ready for the FEB 20th Board of Supervisor’s hearing in Cottonwood.

Thank you John and Ernie for your hard work on the presentation yesterday.

And John, thanks for All of your amazing gathering of facts into your “white paper”.

I heard the P&Z Commissioners asking questions directly from your paper.

AND EVERYONE, YOU ALL MADE THIS HAPPEN.

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!

You Rock,

Trish

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Archie Mendez on January 28, 2019 10:02 am

I have been watching this story with great interest and I am wondering why so many citizens are thinking they can stop development in the Verde Valley when housing, especially affordable housing is so badly needed.

Personally, after seeing so many renters in the area being affected by the shortage of affordable properties, I’d like to see the area developed reasonably. I do not mind the density, but the fact that the land is leased and that it is 55+ age restricted development makes this plan a no-go in my mind. Perhaps the developers should either rent the property (including home structure) and remove the age restriction they would have a better chance of approval. If the developers got involved with programs like Habitat for Humanity or a school-type learning program where future home-owners could learn how to build sustainable homes, it would have a better chance of approval. In talking to my neighbors, it seems the biggest complaint is the poor business practices of the buyers who feed and take advantage of their elderly residents.

Many worry about the number of homes being built – that there isn’t enough services for them and the additional residents will only make traffic woes in Sedona a lot worse. Let’s not forget that the luxury community, 89 & Vine, has already received approval from the City of Cottonwood. Major commercial development is also planned near the intersections of Bill Gray Road, Cornville Road and the Mingus Avenue Extension.The proposed wine-themed project is planned to include more than 2,000 residential units – cookie cutter homes for everyone. No one seems to be the least upset about this development, no one is carrying signs and calling out the county on zoning, no one is calling the land too beautiful to develop.

If the zoning change falls through, there’s still a good chance that approximately 75 homes on 2 acre lots will still be built in El Rojo. The price point of these homes will be in the millions of dollars (aka not affordable housing). As I look around all the new builds in Sedona, all I am seeing is multi-million dollar homes. The other day a guy knocked on my neighbor’s door here in Harmony Heights. This guy was a realtor who wanted to know if he were interested in selling his home. Apparently he has a buyer who wants 3 or 4 homes here so he can tear them out and build a big multi-million dollar home with a great view. This is what is likely to become of our community – we are being priced out.

It also affects our political positions and votes. We know that there is a very wealthy community already in Sedona — during the last election Sedona gave the city an open checkbook and the city continues to gift the chamber millions of dollars for destination marketing, despite the fact that neither one of these things are good for the Sedona community. As more wealthy people move in, more conservative views are moving in too. Do you really think someone who can afford a lot and an uber home in El Rojo will focus on affordable housing?

I do not know who now owns the land or what their financial situation really is — I just know that I would not like it if my neighbors went to the county because they didn’t like who I was selling my land to. I hope this gets worked out for the best, but seeing how the Cultural Park was stolen from Sedona, how Long Canyon was developed and not in the best interest of Sedona, how Enchantment was built blocking access to Boynton Canyon, how we were forced by media lies to believe we needed lights on 89A, how 179 was turned from a enjoyable road to one of gridlock, that we can expect more of the same with El Rojo.

3 Comments

Joan Shannon on January 21, 2019 10:07 am

I wonder if there is such a procedure for the Supervisors such as “triggering a super majority vote” that City Councils including Sedona has. That us, if 75 residents within a certain distance of the proposed development sign a petition then our Council would require six of seven votes to pass the request. Does anyone know if Yavapai has something like this? Would be easy to get 75 signatures in nearby Sedona Shadows.
Joan Shannon on January 21, 2019 10:09 am

Correction: Actually since there are more Supervisors then if there were such a procedure it would require more than 75 signatures but, still that would be easy in Sedona Shadows.
Archie Mendez on January 28, 2019 10:02 am

I have been watching this story with great interest and I am wondering why so many citizens are thinking they can stop development in the Verde Valley when housing, especially affordable housing is so badly needed.

Personally, after seeing so many renters in the area being affected by the shortage of affordable properties, I’d like to see the area developed reasonably. I do not mind the density, but the fact that the land is leased and that it is 55+ age restricted development makes this plan a no-go in my mind. Perhaps the developers should either rent the property (including home structure) and remove the age restriction they would have a better chance of approval. If the developers got involved with programs like Habitat for Humanity or a school-type learning program where future home-owners could learn how to build sustainable homes, it would have a better chance of approval. In talking to my neighbors, it seems the biggest complaint is the poor business practices of the buyers who feed and take advantage of their elderly residents.

Many worry about the number of homes being built – that there isn’t enough services for them and the additional residents will only make traffic woes in Sedona a lot worse. Let’s not forget that the luxury community, 89 & Vine, has already received approval from the City of Cottonwood. Major commercial development is also planned near the intersections of Bill Gray Road, Cornville Road and the Mingus Avenue Extension.The proposed wine-themed project is planned to include more than 2,000 residential units – cookie cutter homes for everyone. No one seems to be the least upset about this development, no one is carrying signs and calling out the county on zoning, no one is calling the land too beautiful to develop.

If the zoning change falls through, there’s still a good chance that approximately 75 homes on 2 acre lots will still be built in El Rojo. The price point of these homes will be in the millions of dollars (aka not affordable housing). As I look around all the new builds in Sedona, all I am seeing is multi-million dollar homes. The other day a guy knocked on my neighbor’s door here in Harmony Heights. This guy was a realtor who wanted to know if he were interested in selling his home. Apparently he has a buyer who wants 3 or 4 homes here so he can tear them out and build a big multi-million dollar home with a great view. This is what is likely to become of our community – we are being priced out.

It also affects our political positions and votes. We know that there is a very wealthy community already in Sedona — during the last election Sedona gave the city an open checkbook and the city continues to gift the chamber millions of dollars for destination marketing, despite the fact that neither one of these things are good for the Sedona community. As more wealthy people move in, more conservative views are moving in too. Do you really think someone who can afford a lot and an uber home in El Rojo will focus on affordable housing?

I do not know who now owns the land or what their financial situation really is — I just know that I would not like it if my neighbors went to the county because they didn’t like who I was selling my land to. I hope this gets worked out for the best, but seeing how the Cultural Park was stolen from Sedona, how Long Canyon was developed and not in the best interest of Sedona, how Enchantment was built blocking access to Boynton Canyon, how we were forced by media lies to believe we needed lights on 89A, how 179 was turned from a enjoyable road to one of gridlock, that we can expect more of the same with El Rojo.