Sedona’s National Scenic Area Designation
May 15th, 2009 | 
Author: If you haven’t already read the editorial regarding the National Scenic Area in the May 15th 2009 issue of the Red Rock News, please read it.
I’m wondering what your reaction is and what you think ? Keep Sedona Beautiful has always stood for integrity and truth in its pursuit of Preserving the Wonder™ of Sedona.
Posted in National Scenic Area (NSA) | 
Tags: Keep Sedona Beautiful, National Scenic Area, Sedona Arizona
Possible response to the Editor,
We hear much about unintended consequences if National Scenic Area legislation is passed by the Congress and your recent editorial brings that to the forefront of why such legislation should not be made the law of the land.
Perhaps it is time to hear about the intended consequences of those who oppose NSA legislation. The developers and a small minority of the Realtors are opposed to an NSA as it would limit their ability to pave over most of the scenic views that the current residents enjoy. The recent talk of Cottonwood annexing the State Trust Land is an example of the kind of “land grabs” that the developers drool over.
The proposed legislation was developed by the capable staffs of the Senate and Legislation from our district, and very simply states that no land trades would be permitted in the 160,000 acres that surround Sedona. No new layer of government would be added by the proposed legislation; the Forest Service is currently administering this land and would continue to do so under NSA designation.
The proposed legislation simply states what is already in the management plan for the Coconino Forest lands in the greater Sedona area. Forest lands in the area may only be exchanged for lands in the area.
Allegations that the legislation will be substantially changed when the bill gets to Washington are absurd. The bill requires no funding. It is a very local item. It is a no brainer. No Congressperson outside of Arizona is even going to read it ,let alone change it.
What is disappointing to me is that every community plan has provision for open space and yet the first time someone wants to build there, the open space proviso is out the window. What the scenic designation asks is for commitment to open space. Simple. Make the Commitment to open space.
The last two attempts I’ve made to contact the Editor of the Sedona Red Rock NEWS resulted in notification of not having been acknowledged; in other words,they were bounced. Therefore, as much as I would like to comment about the NSA editorial, such an effort most likely would also be subjected to rejection. Sorry.
Hi Eddie, Do you mean the email bounced, or your comments were rejected?
Steve
Yes, the management plan is already in place and has been working for 11 years. This very simple request to make permanent a no land trade area policy has become politicized. Every one wants the scenic values preserved.