Readers' comments

#1 Ellen Schaeffer, where have you been since 1980. 29 years. Been living on the moon? Sedona has changed, Phoenix has changed, Cottonwood has changed. Los Angeles has changed. Maui has changed. It's part of the deal. Change happens. Growth happens.

And it's based on the a good ole' American idea – free enterprise and private property rights – he who gambles on "development projects" gets to win or lose depending on the "markets" response.

Cities don't dictate who gets to play in the developer game - they get to referee those who play the game and use their laws (ordinances) to guide those developers to do the best they can in creating an aesthetic, community friendly, healthy, safe, and appropriate project. You can't say to a property owner you can do nothing with your land - it all has utility of some sort and if you downgrade its usage without good cause and rationalization, the owner can challenge the city on its requirements and often win the argument in favor of a higher use. In other words, the game has rules.

Sure Sedona has some buildings that are less than attractive but most tend to be those built back in the good ole' days of 1980 (ie. pre-city) and before. Modern zoning and codes and progressive city efforts have improved what has been built. (my opinion)

Maybe you don't like the way we do things in this country. Maybe you would like a regressive, "do it our way or the highway" approach to city planning (like, say in China). Maybe you would like to buy up all the undeveloped land and turn them into parks for the good of the "people." Short of that, Ellen, you are living in a nether world. And your comments about ugly Sedona of 2009 was taken by me as a personal affront. I not only think you are wrong about the current state of Sedona - but are dead wrong to think 1980 in Sedona was its "best time." I think (and I think many agree with me) Sedona's best is yet to come. Ellen, enjoy living in Santa Barbara, or Carmel, or anywhere but ugly Sedona.
Opinion of eleven year resident.

#2 Yes, I agree. The Verde Valley is in total ruins. Just take a look at the decrepit conditions of the housing;
no sewers, no roofs, no windows, no flowing water, no heat . . . no nothing!  It is just shanty town.

#3 Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. They've put some cheap lipstick on, face powder and eye make up. And say don't we look petty. And look what they've done to VOC. We didn't finish the job in Sedona, we'll finish it in the village. You moved to Sedona to leave the Burger Kings of the world.  You didn't want to take them with you. Old cottonwood looks rather nice. Sorry I said that. They'll be going there next.

#4 Speaking of being naive . . . respondent number one's comment that "Cities don't dictate who gets to play in the developer game - they get to referee those who play the game and use their laws (ordinances) to guide those developers . . . " couldn't be more out of whack. Presumably it has never occurred to this person that it is precisely all of those people, elected and appointed officials who are in bed together, and who reap the most benefit from their unholy relationships.

Also, since when did the number of years a person lives in a place affect the value one's insight into that location's issues and problems?

I have lived here 12 1/2 years and I understand the writer's disappointment in how Sedona is being allowed to develop. Many of us still try to have a positive effect, even though our City government and appointed officials regard us with disdain.

#5 It sounds like it’s time for someone to move, into the woods. Development happens and unfortunately the author thinks time stands still and “they should have raised the bridge when I came to town”. One only has to drive on 89A entering Sedona, look left and see the old beat up trailer park with loitering “citizens” hanging out to know that change can’t happen fast enough. They don’t allow that in Martha’s Vineyard.
Rob

#6 I am amazed at all the passionate comments both negative and positive that are continuously written about Sedona in the media. But almost no one has stepped up to apply to be on the City Council. Why? We have a vacant seat waiting to be filled by appointment. A person doesn't even have to go through the election process to have a chance for this seat. Out of all our passionate citizens, only four have stepped up to apply - this is a stunning fact and I don't hear anyone talk about it. Where is everyone? This city needs good strong neutral hard workers to guide it right now. If you want to see Sedona shine in your eyes then guide it -
Christine Adams

#7 Sedona has changed, just like most other places. It appears to be difficult for those in charge to find the balance between serving the needs of visitors and keeping things comfortable for local residents. It's all about money and generating revenue for the city. Businesses bring in revenue that help support services for residents and visitors alike.
Yes, Sedona has become a major tourist destination and many of the amenities that make visitors feel more at home, like national franchises have popped up. Most of us who live here probably don't even patronize them. And there is the annoyance of replacing the Y with back to back roundabouts that visitors don't seem to have a clue how to drive through.  Local residents must navigate them on a regular basis, so at least they're familiar to us, even if some of us would prefer a different method to encourage traffic flow.
The bottom line is; Sedona is still a great place to live. The community here is involved. We may disagree on issues, but many of us still work together in a respectful way. The natural beauty around us is inspiring and is what attracts the visitors, who desire the familiar amenities they have at home.  Development will never take away the intrinsic natural beauty of Sedona. Most of us choose to live here because we are surrounded by nature, even though increasing development has become a nuisance and an eyesore.

#8 My dear Ellen!!
I feel like I'm reading a letter from someone who was busy sampling some of the produce from Jerome back in the Eighties.

I remember Sedona back then. I lived here. West Sedona was not exactly a paradise. The motels were rather hideous, especially the one near where the Safeway is. Windsong trailer park was no better looking then it is now, just bigger and with an ugly bar. The Coffee Pot Restaurant was a creepy looking grocery combo furniture combo resale shop. The Heartline was a tacky biker bar. The Olde Sedona Grill was a horrible looking restaurant, Aunty Maude's if I remember correctly, the architect should have been shot. Basha's was where the Harkins is and was a rather bland structure, so was Babbits, I mean Lumberman's, Ohhh I mean ProBuild (by the way Kudos to them for rebuilding such a good looking hardware store).

As for the stores you list, mostly in the Basha's shopping center, what is your problem? It isn't like they are at Slide Rock State Park. The town got big enough to handle having that sort of shopping. Shall the residents forego that experience just so they can drive over to your town and shop there? Walmart anyone?

Let's move farther up canyon. The Cedars, which improved it's image with a facelift used to have a big hill across from it. A few scrub brushes, a constant collection of trash (the winds would swirl the trash up on the hill for KSB to gather on a regular basis) and a regular collection of billboards both current and relics, all unattractive. The Hyatt came in (no, I am NOT a supporter of timeshares) and built an fairly nice looking resort after trimming down the hill a bit. Growth. Just like the many thousands that moved here since 1980.

Tlaquepaque. Abe Miller had a marvelous dream. I don't think he would be too disappointed with what it has become. You exaggerate with your carnival claim, it is still serene and classy, and exaggerate with your overpriced claim. I happen to be on of the MANY local artists that have their work there and I know exactly what their markup is and they are very fair. For your information, most of the shop owners in Tlaquepaque have less markup than Walmart. Surprised? It's true.
Uptown. You don't remember much about uptown. It is so much better looking then it was in 1980. More shops, yes but so much nicer. The biggest eyesore in northern Arizona was in uptown Sedona. It was the Jenkins Building. A multi story concrete shell with black plastic torn tarps flapping in the canyon breeze. It stood for quite a wihile until another of your hated developers came in and turned it into the Arroyo Roble. Nice place.

You must be friends with the owners of Oaxaca, just my opinion but calling it "wonderful" is a stretch. You must also love their margarita's, perhaps a bit too much. The view from that resturaunt doesn't face the setting sun that you claim is now spoiled by the building across the street. Do you remember what was there in 1980?
Whiners. sheeesh.

#9 Amen sister, I hear you. I agree with much of the thoughtless development. I also hate the constant chem trails, the stupid round abouts that no one has a clue how to drive, and the "uptown remodel" that did nothing to improve parking, jaywalking, or traffic control. We need more people like you who will stand up and point out the stupidity of what we will allow into this beautiful city. Bless you,
-J.

#10 Having lived in Edgartown (Martha's Vineyard) for many years (and visited Sedona 20+ times) I can understand her point. However, managing a small island where 95% of the population leaves after labor day, doesn't compare with Sedona. Do i like what they have done in Sedona over the years, no way, but when i hike up to my somewhat secret Sedona spots, nothing has changed in what i saw 20 years ago,

#10  From Ellen Schaeffer:

The response to my letter run the gamut from those who strongly agree, those who strongly disagree and some who take a middle ground.

Respondent #1, I am not sure why you would ask where I had been from 1980 to now. I have been in AZ.

Sedona is nothing short of spectacular. Phoenix has grown, everywhere in the state has grown. Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler and Tucson - all have undergone tremendous growth. Anthem appeared out of nowhere and is a thriving well-planned city.

I resent being told to go live in China or other such nonsense, because I believe we should protect one-of-a-kind places of extraordinary natural beauty. My opinions are deeply rooted in my love for this country. We need to be good stewards of what God has given us.


Something as spectacular as Sedona should have been treated with far greater care. The beauty that is there should not "belong" to Abe-somebody or the owner of a Burger King franchise. If it does, something is amiss.

Development and protecting natural beauty can and should go hand in hand.