Keep Sedona Beautiful

Posts Tagged ‘Cottonwood State Trust Land Annexation’

Keep Sedona Beautiful Urges Caution, Thoughtful Deliberation
Regarding Cottonwood’s Proposed Annexation of State Trust Land

The KSB Board of Trustees recently approved the following statement:

Keep Sedona Beautiful (KSB) urges the City of Cottonwood to take whatever time is necessary for full public consideration of its proposal to annex 10 square miles of state trust land northeast of the city. Among critical issues that must be addressed by Cottonwood, along with its Verde Valley and Prescott Valley neighbors are:

• Water sources, especially the impact on groundwater supplies and the Verde River
• Environmental impact, including potential pollution and congestion
• Effects on open spaces and the surrounding natural scenic area
• Sustainability issues associated with the possible addition of about 50,000 residents to the area

KSB encourages Cottonwood to embrace its standing as a good neighbor in the Verde Valley by collaborating with all stakeholders, including those outside of the city who may be affected by this transaction. Cottonwood’s hasty advancement of this proposal highlights the potential perils of state land trust annexations, as well as the need to protect and preserve natural scenic areas in Red Rock Country.