By Steve Segner
Sedona, Az — Sedona residents will soon face an important decision regarding Proposition 483. Let’s clarify what this proposition entails.
In 2022, the City of Sedona acquired over 40 acres in West Sedona, known as the “Culture Park” or the Western Gateway. This land is hilly, wooded, and mostly unimproved, with a decaying wooden structure that once served as an outdoor concert arena. The arena operated as a summer entertainment venue for about three years before going bankrupt and closing in 2003. The city’s intention in purchasing this land was clear: to address the critical need for rental housing in our community. Currently, only 4% of Sedona’s housing is available for rent, while most towns have at least 20% of their housing as rental apartments.
The Sedona City Council decided to hire an external planning and development company to guide the planning of this property. This process, set to begin in the coming months, will involve community input and a lengthy review before any projects can be initiated.
Last spring, about 6 acres of the land, hidden away from highway view were rezoned to be used as a two-year “Safe Place to Park” for employees working in Sedona who were sleeping in their vehicles. Funded mainly through grants, this initiative was a temporary solution to give local families an alternative to sleeping in unsafe conditions.
As we all know, rising rental and home prices, along with the proliferation of short-term rentals removing housing from the market, have made renting in Sedona expensive and challenging for many in the service industry. These employees are the backbone of Sedona’s businesses and are essential to maintaining the quality of life we, as residents, enjoy.
However, a group of newcomers to Sedona has proposed a different vision. They argue that the old Culture Park site should once again become home to a defunct 5,000-seat outdoor entertainment venue rather than be used for housing and other community benefits. This group is actively campaigning against the “Safe Place to Park,” spreading misinformation and fear about an invasion of the “homeless” to garner support for their entertainment venue proposal and to slow down, if not stop, any housing initiatives by the city.
This spring, the city council approved the two-year zoning change for the “Safe Place to Park,” but the push from this new group for a massive event venue and the rescinding of the temporary zoning led to the collection of signatures and the placement of this issue on the November ballot as a referendum, now known as Proposition 483.
So, what’s at stake? Sedona voters must decide whether to prioritize tourism or support local housing solutions. The old Culture Park went bankrupt, and now a small group of newcomers is trying to overturn a decision that supports our community’s needs.
A “NO” vote on Prop 483 means endorsing a new tourist attraction, while a “YES” vote supports local citizens and their collaboration with the city government to determine the future of the Western Gateway property. We will hear arguments that it’s not about the rebirth of the venue, it’s just about the “Safe Place to Park,” zoning but how does that square with the initial challenge to the city council when the zoning was created? Click HERE to hear the initiator of the referendum declare his position and threaten to pursue a referendum if the city created the zoning. To learn more about the referendum, go to https://Yeson483.com.
Don’t be misled by scare tactics. As the saying goes, “No good deed goes unpunished.” Let’s focus on what’s best for our community and vote YES on Prop 483.
7 Comments
Only lie is that a de funked music venue will somehow magically come back as a popular venue (nobody but locals will play and attend)and benefit Sedona more than it would if it had been turned into a safe park for Sedona’s unhoused Employees.
It’s nothing short of a hypocritical lie.
VOTE NO SEDONA PROP 483 = NO HOMELESS CAR PARK AT CULTURAL PARK
Get the TRUE facts at: VOTE NO ON PROP 483 https://sedonavotes.com/
This should be titled Lies by Steve Segner who has become synomous with perpetrating fabrication of lies and propoganda. I see you are still using your “gorilla” tactics with this shallow propoganda hit piece that is riddled with your deceiving lies. Is this the best you can come up with to fight the will of the people who do not want a homeless car park? Even your good friend, Mayor Scott Jablow, doesn’t think this is a good solution either, as quoted by him in The Guardian on 4/6/24 that “It’s a sucky idea, actually.” This issue has become known as Jablow’s Folly.
Segner and the City are perpetuating their lie it is just for workers by tugging at your heartstrings. The City’s FAQ states that “disabled” and “retired” people will also be admitted. This includes the mentally ill, drug addicts, and “retired” young people living the “nomad lifestyle.” In addition, there will be no criminal backkground checks, No Indeminification/ Hold Harmelss required against suing the City, and no solutions or services provided for permanent housing
These funds could be used to provide dignity by furnishing ACTUAL ROOFS, NOT CAR ROOFS for unverified hard data for 40 people for 2 years. This is the summary cost of Jablow’s Folly taken directly from the ADOH grant approval which are anticipated to increase:
$1,248,138 Total Anticipated Program Cost
$ 875,638 Grant Budget Awarded
$ 372,500 Minimum delta the City will cover
PROPOSITION 483 TEXT – REFERENDUM ORDERED BY PETITION OF THE PEOPLE
OFFICIAL TITLE: Petition refers Sedona Ordinance No. 2024-01 (the “Ordinance”), as approved by the Sedona City Council on March 12, 2024, to the City’s voters for their rejection or approval. The Ordinance approves a change to the current “Planned Development zoning of Yavapai County Assessor’s Parcel 408-47-009A (located northwest of the intersection of W State Route 89A and Cultural Park Place) by adding the City’s “Safe Place to Park” Program as a permitted use of the parcel through June 30, 2026.
DESCRIPTIVE TITLE: Voters will approve or reject Ordinance 2024-01 approving the City’s zoning change of Parcel 408-47-009A (a six-acre City-owned parcel located northwest of SR89A and Cultural Park Place) for the City’s “Safe Place to Park” Program as a permitted use of the parcel through June 30, 2026.
A “NO” vote shall have the effect of rejecting Sedona City Ordinance No. 2024-01 that was approved by Sedona City Council on March 12, 2024, for the zoning change of Parcel 408-47-009A (located northwest of the intersection of W State Route 89A and Cultural Park Place) by adding the City’s “Safe Place to Park” Program as a permitted use of the parcel through June 30, 2026.
There is a plan just waiting to be discovered that will serve all interests and leave no one’s behind. Is anybody interested in moving beyond the limitations of the yes/no mentality? In the meantime, let’s do our best to take care of those who need a hand up. Keeping our brothers and sisters “safe” should be everybody’s priority. Maybe the people who have issues with that should spend a few weeks sleeping in their cars to see what that’s like. That would probably end any disagreements right then and there.
Mary Ellen – Why should anyone have to sleep in their cars at all? Don’t you think a better use of the two years $1.25 Million ADOH grant funding would provide dignity to the 40 people idenitified by furnishing ACTUAL ROOFS, NOT CAR ROOFS? Vouchers could be issued to subsidize rent in a Not-To-Exceed amount of $15,600 per person for 1 year for 80 people or, $15,600 per person per year for 2 years for 40 people (totaling $31,200).
Instead of spending money to recreate the Cultural Park, why not use the money to build low income housing and/or rental properties for our workers?? I’m not in favor of a “car park “. Let’s build PERMANENT structures instead.
It is a preposterous lie that Prop 483 is about putting a 5000 seat theater in the Cultural Park. You are desperately trying to change the subject from the scandal-ridden homeless park to a phantom theater that is NOT on the ballot. The video of me you cited as evidence proves you are lying. In that video I said Sedonans wanted a live entertainment venue in the Cultural Park and not a homeless car park. I never said anything about a 5000 seat theater, nor do I think it desirable. You have clearly lost the argument when you have to confabulate an imaginary “5000 seat theater” to distract people from the real issue. According to city officials the car park is NOT just for workers and it is NOT safe. See the actual evidence at https://sedonavotes.com/
The fact that a lame duck council spent $10 million in cash and borrowed $13 million for a property with ZERO plan in mind should tell you all you need to know.
The Cultural Park has had several owners that have had decent proposals including workforce housing, an art component and green space. All rejected. Not enough water, traffic and the normal anti development rhetoric.
But now….all that is forgotten that the city has jumped in and added 40 acres to the 600 + that they already own.
The city owns 200+ acres at the Dells 6 miles out of town. A terrific plan for housing, development and some local shopping for the residents was ignored. Just think how far a partnership with a developer could have gone with $23 million dollars. And now we own a hard to build on uneven rocky piece of dirt.
The chances that the stage venue may come back? Maybe, maybe not. But ignoring similar car parks around the west that have attracted drug dealers, human trafficking and other issues is burying your head in the sand. “It can’t happen here”.
For $23 million you could work with existing businesses who have employees without homes and subsidize rents. Enchantment has bought houses in Cottonwood to provide affordable housing for employees.
But a car park? Remember this is a city that budgeted $2.7 million for Forest Road which is up to $12 million. And a tansit system that is promoting bicycles and walking from the two core roads, 179 and 89a where all terrain goes straight up a mountain or down a mountain. Mediam population age of 59.
Can anyone say “out of touch”.
Vote NO on prop 483