TRAFFIC JAMS NO FAULT OF RESIDENTS - Joan Shannon, Sedona

Robin: Here we go again, traffic jams are also caused by residents? What nonsense. You and the City and Sedona in Motion think we are making trips all over town every day. It is absurd to destroy the tranquility of neighborhoods for connecting streets. The City tried this on South 89a with the reason the City gave was so residents could stay off 89 for a block or two when they went out. The connection would have destroyed several back patios in the Morning Sun townhomes a beautiful tranquil neighborhood off Sunset. Anything to keep us off 89a. A massive backlash from residents stopped it. City did not care as it was simply put aside until as they said, “A NEW ATTITUDE DEVELOPS”. The street would have had a shared bath for bikers so vacation rental owners could provide bikes for tourists to take a nice ride through a quiet neighborhood.

The new three level garage being built in Uptown will provide dozens of bike racks for visitors to go on fun rides adding to Uptown traffic. City approved zone changes for more resorts like Saddlerock Crossing right on 89 at Soldiers Pass and the Heritage Hotel on Schnebly Hill Road. The Saddlerock Crossing will be on property that was originally zoned for housing but. now the lovely neighborhood directly behind will have it right on top of them. the Heritage Resort to be built RIGHT ON OAK CREEK which will block residents access to the Creek and all the wildlife for water. This is considered AN HISTORIC AREA. This area was zoned residential but, the City gave another zone change to commercial. MORE TRAFFIC INTO UPTOWN.. ADOT did a study years ago and found that 55% of the vehicles coming into town (would be much more now) and through Uptown did not stop. Drivers travelling north take 179 to go North since ADOT has it designated as a SCENIC HIGHWAY. I asked our City several times to approach ADOT to remove that designation and was told by the City Manager at the time “Not a chance we would consider it”. An effort to change it could be based on the Health and Welfare of Residents because one day first responders might be impeded getting to emergencies causing great harm to someone.

What they have done to Uptown is a DISGRACE not to mention ugly and I am certainly not alone with that view. I do not know where the considerations are now but, the City was talking about constructing two OVERHEAD BRIDGES in Uptown. I have lived in Uptown right close to the hub of it all for 45 years so see and experience it all. Now the traffic coming off 179 causes a problem more than ever because of these ugly changes.
Also putting the Transit Hub for several buses to transport visitors to the trails right in the hub of Uptown was madness. Should have been put at the Cultural Park (which is now being planned for 443 or so three to four story apartments).

The result will be a huge four-way roundabout at Brewer and Ranger right in front of a lovely shop which used to be called “The Hart House” with no caring about the affect on that business. This decision will bring more cars into Uptown to the bus depot off Brewer Rd for visitors to take the buses and then leave. Because of the location of the Transit Hub big changes are coming to Uptown with one roundabout being removed, a new road installed behind Coldwell Banker from Brewer to 89a which will result in a huge roundabout right in the middle of Cook Hill. Uptown used to have character but now it is no different to any big city. City keeps dumping more and more traffic onto Uptown. The City used to play a video before each Council meeting stating ” We do all we can to preserve our small town character”.

The City bought the old Ranger station on Brewer many years ago for a possible tiny park but, also for tourists to visit “an old building”. The cost so far for purchase and repairs are well over a million and counting. Our City thinks tourists would spend time to see a building just because it is old. If the City had researched they would have found there is a huge drop off from tourists visiting old buildings especially without any interesting history like those in Boston. I did and found a well known City was concerned about their future as a new generation was not interested in history. Our Historical Museum does well because of the history of Sedona’s founders and it is very interesting. The money should have been spent to purchase the property on Schnebly Hill before the developer did as it would have made a beautiful park right on Oak Creek. NO VISION. A beautiful Creek to which one day residents would have no access including the wonderful wildlife who have traveled there for generations to drink from the Creek. Considered an Historic Area. Planning & Zoning voted for the zone change from residential which allowed a resort to take over the area adding more traffic to Uptown.

OUR CITY STAFF, PLANNING AND ZONING, CITY COUNCIL AND THE CONSULTANT THEY USE REPEATEDLY HAVE DESTROYED OUR BEAUTIFUL TOWN..

It is going to become far worse with the plans now being worked on. Imagine, us residents are contributing to traffic jams!!! There is even more insanity being planned. MADNESS has arrived in Sedona and it cannot be rectified as IT IS TOO LATE.

Joan Shannon
45-year Sedona Resident
faithfuljoan@earthlink.net