By Tommy Acosta
Sedona News (July 4,2021) It looks like another good old-fashioned Sedona donnybrook is in the works as opposing sides get ready to rumble at Tuesday’s July 6 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting where proponents for an 84-rental unit development in the heart of Uptown Sedona face off against opponents fighting a required zoning change that would put the development, called Jordan Lofts, in their neighborhood.
On the P&Z menu is a proposal to change the zoning to allow for the building of the multi-residential unit complex in the Jordan Road community.
The request for the zoning change was made by developer Miramante LLC, filed April 20, 2021.
Miramonte is proposing to amend the City’s Single-Family Residential (“RS-18”) designation for parcel 401-05-004A, to Medium-High Density Multifamily (“RM-2”) designation. Parcel 401-58-001A consists of approximately 2.06 acres of raw land and is already zoned RM-2. Parcel 401-05-004A consists of approximately 4.53 acres of raw land.
On the collective 6.5 acres, Miramonte proposes to construct an 84-unit apartment complex, which would consist of 36 apartment units on Parcel -001A and 48 apartment units on Parcel -004A, as more fully described in Miramonte’s letter of intent filed with the City. Ten of the apartments would be DIGAH-designated affordable units.
Since the filing Miramonte initiated a public outreach and feedback program to gauge the community’s opposition/support for the zoning change and project.
Opponents, expressed these following concerns during the public outreach process:
- The development will add at least 150 additional car trips in Uptown.
- Increases Uptown traffic.
- Dramatically changes Uptown character.
- Degrades the local environment.
- Destroys Uptown neighborhood views.
Opponents were also concerned that:
- Workforce employees will not be able to afford the housing.
- Some renters may walk or bike, but others won’t.
- Nothing available in Uptown to meet the daily needs to support a family life.
- Too many tourists in Uptown.
- Too much traffic on Jordan Roa
- Everything in Uptown is getting sold out to vacation rentals and working people can’t afford to live here anymore.
- Too many people “crammed” into Sedona.
- Internet is slow, traffic is slow.
- High-density housing can ruin the neighborhood.
- Work force housing should be in West Sedona.
- Concerned that the units will become short term vacation rentals.
- Workforce employees will not be able to afford.
- Some renters may walk or bike, but others won’t.
- Nothing available in Uptown to meet the daily needs to support a family life.
- Too many tourists in Uptown.
- Too much traffic on Jordan Road
- Everything in Uptown is getting sold out to vacation rentals and working people can’t afford to live here anymore.
- Internet is slow, traffic is slow.
- High-density housing can ruin the neighborhood.
- Work force housing should be in West Sedona.
- Concerned that the units will become short term vacation rentals.
Proponents believe that the project will greatly help young professionals to move to Sedona and provide some affordable housing for the community working force.
Proponents believe that:
- Finding workforce housing in and around Sedona is difficult and makes hiring difficult.
- Long commutes add to traffic problems.
- Miramonte prohibits vacation rentals.
- “We desperately need workforce housing in Sedona, especially uptown…”
- The project has high “walkability.”
- “Sedona is in a housing crisis.”
- Employee defections due to lack of housing options.
- “The location is perfect.”
- Residents will be able to walk, bike or take transit.
- “Will not obstruct views and handles open space well.”
- Apartments are rare, “welcome and needed.”
- Pinon Lofts has not hurt property values.
- One of the few parcels still available to provide higher density workforce housing.
- People will be able to walk to work if they work Uptown.
Proponents, and opponents are also confronted with this fact.
If the present zoning is left in place any developer can build a plethora of Airbnb’s on the property under the current zoning, thereby inundating Uptown with at least 100 of these short-term rentals, perceived by many as a bane to the community.
The current plan, if approved, would not allow Airbnb’s under the proposed zoning change.
Many in Sedona consider Airbnb’s as a bane to their neighborhoods.
Of the 84 rental units, ten would be built as affordable housing.
Those wishing to attend the meeting can do so at City Hall on Tuesday, July 6 starting at 4:30 p.m.
Community members are encouraged to attend. Safe distancing and masking protocols will be enforced.
Learn more by clicking HERE
5 Comments
The number of trips per day estimated without a traffic study by the developer is 600 NOT 150. Get your facts straight! Also, high density units are being proposed in a residential neighborhood with no existing high density development.
The author noted it would “add” 150 trips. NOT that it would only be 150 daily trips. Regardless, the project if approved will not allow Airbnbs. As it stands now, anyone can build them without needing any changes.
good article, better than AirBnB
too much traffic… what about the water and electricity… and internet service…
UP town is not the place for this project… NO to Zone change…
Miramonte Homes is not a honest broker. They say near 600 cars a day in peak times would REMOVE CARS FROM 89. What nonsense. There would be additional cars outside regular hours, renters shopping. running errands. having visitors etc. Miramonte published information with the heading ‘WORKFORCE HOUSING” when only ten it of 84 units would be classed as just that BUT, Miramonte refuses to state what the rent would be only that it “WOULD BE MARKET VALUE” which puts them on a par with the other 75 which Miramonte says an applicant would require a yearly salary of $100,000 PLUS HAVING TO PAY FOR WATER, TRASH, POWER AND SEWER. They promote their project as being for Uptown Workers who earn around $15 per hour. They state they could walk or bike to work. Too far to walk and no bike racks Uptown. They say they could bike to special events and shopping in Uptown when we have neither. You say Acosta that Navahopi Road is involved – WRONG – the ingress and egress is planned at the back which would mean many hundreds of cars would be using Quail Tail Trail (partially unpaved with no plans to pave) and Wilson Canyon Road – both very narrow old roads which rim beautiful Wilson Canyon full of wildlife which would be extremely harmed from the noise and pollution of the cars. 84 air conditioners would add to that noise pollution, cars coming and going, plus the usual noise from renters. Plus hundreds of cars right onto other residential streets in that area, old narrow roads. ALSO ANYONE CAN RENT THEM, EVEN FROM THE VALLEY, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND OTHER NEARBY DESTINATIONS FOR AS SHORT A TIME AS THREE MONTHS, PERHAPS FOR THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS AND INVITE THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILIES. Jordan Road is an Historic Road leading to the old Jordan home and apple barn which is now the Heritage Museum. Uptown has character, it is like a village unlike any other section of Sedona. It should be preserved and not destroyed. People have lived in the area for thirty and more years. Another fact you have wrong Acosta is saying that the project is opposed by those living adjacent and nearby. WRONG WRONG WRONG. Many from West Sedona have written emails opposing. Many homeowners like myself who live several streets away vehemently oppose. We do not oppose the current zoning only the massive change. You are threatening us with your predictions of noisy vacation rentals with the current zoning. We are not afraid and 84 townhomes would be far worse for reasons stated above. We have many vacation rentals in Uptown and one next to me and have no problems. Evidently our City does not care about preserving Old Town Sedona as evident by the Planning & Zoning Commission passing the recent Uptown CFA Draft which will bring in more traffic to Uptown. Now we will have a hotel of 188 rooms plus 29 multiple dwellings at the North end of Uptown so we will not be able to move through Uptown. In that recent CFA no residents were mentioned and yet it was over whelmingly rejected by Uptowners and West Sedonans. This speaks loudly of what the City cares about: TOURISTS ONLY. The term “affordable housing” for Sedona is a joke, there is no such housing and won’t be. That is the fact of life Mr. Acosta. Why is Uptown being singled out as the place for more housing when there are lots of places in West Sedona and more convenient for workers. Our City is destroying Uptown which was once a beautiful place with lovely shops. When I moved here the population was 4000 and Sedona had character and charm. now it is all GONE and we are being run like a big city.
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