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ADOT demonstrates lighting options for Hwy 89a in Sedona, residents demonstrate against themBy Tommy Acosta SEDONA, AZ (November 6, 2009) - More than 200 community residents turned out for the Arizona Department of Transportation open house on lighting options for Hwy 89A Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Sedona Library. ADOT staged the event to gather input from Sedona citizens and stakeholders in order to narrow down the best and most practical lighting options to present to the Sedona City Council for final approval next year. In an extremely-well organized and staged presentation utilizing glossy picture board renderings of different style light poles and lighting fixtures, ADOT offered 68 lighting options that could cost the city anywhere between $150,000 and $3 million to install, depending on the choice. According to ADOT, the lighting options could cost the city between $11,000 and $35,000 annually to maintain and operate, costs going up or down in relation to the aesthetic value of the lighting systems and the amount of poles and lumens required to maintain minimum-lighting standards set by ADOT. ADOT representatives and officials were stationed near the displays to answer questions by the public and to take input. ADOT also provided a court stenographer to take verbal input from citizens. Comment forms for residents to ask questions on whether people feel it is important to put lights on 89A, types of lighting preferred and the amount of money the city should spend on lighting, were also provided. Although there was a well-organized demonstration by community members opposing any lighting for 89A, ADOT officials were happy with the turnout itself and the opportunity it had to receive community input, negative or positive. “We are thrilled with the turnout,” said ADOT Public Involvement Director Teresa Welborn. “We really want to know what the people want. People can make comments on the type of lighting they want, pole heights and fixtures. We are following guidelines set by the federal government. We believe we can only make good decisions with good information.” ADOT Public Information Officer Rod Wigman said ADOT was not concerned whether people were opposed or for the project as long as they came in to get information. “Even though people voice displeasure we would rather have them come in to talk to us than not,” he said. “There’s a lot of misinformation out there.” Ms. Welborn said community members who did not attend the open house could find out everything they need to know about the proposed lighting options by visiting the ADOT Website at AZDOT.gov and clicking the button that says “West Sedona Lights.” Former Sedona mayor Dick Ellis said the open house was simply a ruse by ADOT to divert opposition to the lights. “They are trying to pull us away from the main issue,” he said. “They are trying to steer us away by asking us to consider alternatives. They are trying to get us thinking about options. The real issue is will there be lights or no lights.”
At the meeting, Sedona.biz approached and interviewed numerous attendees and asked if they were in favor of the lights. According to ADOT, there were people there who were in favor of lights for 89A but were reluctant to be interviewed. Sedona.biz asked at least 20 people if they were for the lights. ADOT found one person. Sedona.biz found the other. John DiBattista, speaking in favor of the lights, said the safety of the community trumped all other concerns. “I’m in support of protecting our community,” he said. “If that requires lights, so be it. ADOT went above and beyond on what they need to do to present to the community information in a manner that makes sense.” Jim Wizard said he was in favor of the lights because he is concerned standard lighting would ruin the aesthetics of Sedona. “The bottom line is ADOT is going to put those lights in with or without our blessing,” he said. “We have to take control of the issue now. We should go ahead with the Monteray poles that are similar to those now on S.R. 179. The bigger poles could hurt our environment. We don’t want to lose control of our destiny.”
ADOT stated at the last city council meeting it will put the lights in even if the city rejects them. Almost every citizen who agreed to be interviewed was against lights for S.R. 89A in West Sedona, save for traffic lights at the Andante and Airport Road intersections. The following are comments from a sample of those in opposition: “In order to install those lights ADOT must dig trenches and cut down trees on 89A,” said Jannah Reimer. “Almost every tree along the path could be killed or damaged. We put yellow ribbons on the trees that would be affected. Go take a look. This is shocking.” “I’m very upset,” said Cynthia Nasta demonstrating outside the library. “This is not the will of the people. This will destroy the beauty of our night skies. There is a nightmarish situation at the Andante intersection. Light poles will not improve it. One decent stoplight there would be a real improvement.” “Since Phoenix has plenty of lighting on its streets maybe we should ask how many pedestrian fatalities they had last year,” Susan Payne said. “I’ll bet it’s a lot more than we had over the last ten.” “The effort to put lights in on 89A is manipulation by fear to cause people to accept a conventional answer to a problem not really pertinent to our situation,” Patrick Hickey said. “The light poles will create a visual clutter during the day, ruin our views of the red rocks and destroy our views of our beautiful night skies,” said Larry Rosenberg. “These lights are a synonym for ugliness. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Ugliness does not make sense. These lights will ruin our treasures – our red rock views and our night skies.” “This event, in addition to the other events regarding lights on 89A has become an overwhelming and resounding message to ADOT and the city council that continuous lighting on 89A is absolutely unnecessary,” said Barbara Mayer. “Safety, of course, is our number one issue. But the proposed lighting is absolute overkill and detrimental to the quality of life and essence of what Sedona really is.” Shedding a positive light on the open house, Sedona City Manager Tim Ernster reiterated the ADOT position that the event, regardless of whether people are for or against the lighting, provided the community an opportunity to get answers and voice their views, as well provide ADOT an opportunity to record them. “I didn’t expect so many people to show up,” he said. “I’m pleased to see so many people come out to express their opinion.” Readers' comments #1 TO: Officials of Arizona
Department of Transportation and #2 I was at the Open House at
4:30. Had I been there at the time Carl was
interviewing people I would have been happy to
tell him why I want the lights. To lighten up a
commercial area of a state highway for the sake
of safe walking, biking, and driving after dark.
Safety should always come first. I find it just
as incredible that anyone WOULDN'T want the
lights. Flagstaff is a Dark Sky city and was the
first. ADOT is offering the same lights as one
of our options. It is not a valid argument to
believe that Sedona would risk it's potential
designation due to adding the lights down SR89A.
I might also add that there are lights around
the round-abouts, Uptown and down SR179. No
complaints then. Why now? #3 OK let's see...How about the
fact that there are many other more effective
safety treatments outlined in the 89A safety
panel report that are more effective and being
ignored (negligence). How about ADOI not
expediting putting a traffic signal up
immediately and an emergency procedure
(negligence). How about the fact that 98 percent
of the injuries on the road happen during the
day. Lights do nothing to protect people during
the day (Stupidity). How about the fact that
ADOT is trying to bulldoze this community
because they don't want to lose a $2 million
grant which will pay for significant overhead
(arrogance). Combined with the fact that they
are in a $100 million deficit this year and the
last thing they want to do is give back 2
million to the Feds. How about the fact that
they have not disclosed the contractor who gains
to benefit the most (corruption). How about the
fact that they send paid consultants to public
meetings who only get paid if the lights go up
(unethical)? #4 In downtown Glendale,
California, there are two lanes of traffic in
either direction on Brand Avenue, the major
retail/business thoroughfare. At several places
along the street there are crosswalks
illuminated by embedded flashing lights in the
street surface. The pedestrian activates the
lights at the curb switch and they are
impossible to miss, along with signage and
flashing pedestrian signals. #5 Letter to the editor from Jim Eaton: After all the hoohahs, what are the lights really for? #6 Streeet lights in
Sedona..Ahhh yes. This whole argument reminds me
of a dog chasing it's tail. 68 options for
street lights? Gimme a break! I'd like to
address a few facts.
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