Keep Sedona Beautiful

Posts Tagged ‘National Scenic Area’

KSB Members Overwhelmingly Support Sedona National Scenic Area (NSA) Designation

Photo by Stephen DeVol

Nearly 100 percent of Keep Sedona Beautiful (KSB) members support a Sedona-Red Rock National Scenic Area (NSA) designation, according to a recent survey conducted by the 600-member organization.

A federal designation is under consideration for the 160,000 acres of forest lands in and surrounding Sedona. U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, who is the only U.S. Congressional representative who may introduce such legislation, has asked constituents for further data as she considers introducing legislation. In response, KSB conducted an online survey of its members.

In the survey, conducted July 17-27, 98.9 percent of respondents said they support an NSA designation. They rated its positive economic impact 6.7 on a 7.0 (highest) scale. Respondents rated the importance of the following aspects of an NSA:

• Scenic/Community Harmony: Preserves scenic beauty, small town character and property values, but allows crucial public infrastructure and land use [schools, roads, fire stations and cell phone towers] (96.9%)
• Forest Management: Allows continued U.S. Forest Service management; no new administrative authority required. (92.8%)
• Local Control: Does not affect “local control.” (92.8%)
• Business Impact: Is good for business and tourism. (91.8%)
• Government Authority: Creates no new layers of government. (86.7%)
• Land Use: Does not affect any private, state or municipal lands. (75.5%)
• Area Affected: Applies only to Coconino National Forest lands in the area. (75.5%)

Comments provided by KSB members to share with Kirkpatrick included:

• “This one act will forever be Congresswoman Kirkpatrick’s signature legislation.”
• “Having a(n) NSA designation would strengthen the Sedona brand and help our tourism business.”
• “The Sedona economy and lifestyle are dependent upon protection of the scenic beauty. We must be stewards of this treasure.”
• “It will help to bolster the region’s economic base as a tourist destination where residents, organizations, and government agencies work as stewards to assure a balance between the human footprint and the fragile grandeur of nature.”

Full results of the KSB survey may be viewed on the Keep Sedona Beautiful website.

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.

Keep Sedona Beautiful was featured on AM Arizona with Tonya Mock and Lew Rees on Channel 7 TV Tuesday, July 14.  This program reached a market of 1 million people so it was excellent exposure. The main topic was the National Scenic Area designation, and KSB President Stephen DeVol showed some of our popular ‘Scenic Sedona’ video.  All in all, was great opportunity to talk about KSB and “Preserving the Wonder” of Sedona.

Keep Sedona Beautiful has it’s own YouTube Channel where you can see this video and many more.

More than 300 people turned out at the Sedona Elks Lodge last night (July 22) to show their support for the National Scenic Area designation. Sponsored by Sedona Red Rock National Scenic Area Designation Coalition, the event showcased informational presentations and video productions supporting the NSA designation and concluded with a Q&A session.

Music was provided by Meadowlark, a duo playing flute and guitar, and was MCed by Shondra Jepperson.  Free wine and hors  d’oeuvres were provided by Weber’s IGA and Safeway.  Door prizes were provided by Harkins Theatres, Page Springs Winery, Flagstaff Symphony, Democrats of the Red Rocks, and more.

Read the related article on Sedona.biz

For more information:

Democrats of the Red Rocks
P. O. Box 1165, Sedona AZ 86339-1165
928.203.5858

Sedona Verde Valley Chapter, Sierra Club
70 White Tail Lane, Sedona AZ 86336
928.203.0340

Keep Sedona Beautiful
360 Brewer Road, Sedona AZ 86336
928.282.4938

KSB is being featured on AM Arizona with Tonya Mock and Lew Rees on Channel 7 TV tomorrow morning [July 14] between 10 and 11 am. The exact time is not firm as other broadcast scheduling takes priority. We were a late addition to the show, hence the late notice. This program reaches a market of 1 million people so it’s excellent exposure. The main topic will be the National Scenic Area designation, and we’ll show some of our popular ‘Scenic Sedona’ video.  All in all, it’s a great opportunity to talk about KSB and “Preserving the Wonder” of Sedona.

Free Public Event to Highlight Support for
Sedona National Scenic Area Designation

On Wednesday, July 22, the Sedona-Red Rock National Scenic Area (NSA) Coalition invites the public to come out and show their support for a National Scenic Designation (NSA) for the Sedona area. To be held from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Sedona Elks Lodge, 110 Airport Road, this free event will feature the Scenic Sedona video, which has had more than 2,000 views in three weeks on youtube.com and was created to honor the commitment from the public to making the NSA a reality. A new video also will be introduced. Complimentary wine and hors doeurves will be served.

“The NSA designation would permanently preserve our irreplaceable scenic beauty, small-town character, and property values, while enabling the community to provide needed schools, roads and other public necessities in the future,” said Steve DeVol, KSB President. “We are at a crucial time in the evolution of Sedona. It is critical that area residents voice their support for permanent protections from land trades that they express their support for the NSA designation.”

Press Release

For more information on the NSA designation, please visit www.keepsedonabeautiful.org or call 282.4938.

Monday morning was bright and beautiful as we began providing coffee to folks who stopped by to learn about the National Scenic Area designation. We answered many questions from folks who wanted to know the facts. Questions were real and showed us that people really care about preserving this area.  We signed up new members and we received donations. The questions asked the most were about management and property rights. We had meaningful dialogues with some folks who just wanted to talk about their environment in general. This writer was struck with the depth of concern people have for the environment and the quality of life here in Sedona.

Start your Monday morning with FREE coffee and cookies at Sedona’s Java Love Cafe.  On Monday June 22nd from 7:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. Java Love Café will be giving out a free cup of coffee and cookies in partnership with Keep Sedona Beautiful in order to bring attention to the push for a National Scenic Area designation (NSA) in the Sedona area.  Volunteers from Keep Sedona Beautiful will be on hand to answer questions and provide information on the National Scenic Area designation.  Read more about the event and the NSA …

On Monday June 22nd from 7:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. Java Love Café at 2155 West Highway 89a in West Sedona will be giving out a free cup of coffee and donut in partnership with Keep Sedona Beautiful.  Dubbed “From Coffee to Commitment” this fun filled event is being held in order to bring attention to the push for a National Scenic Area designation (NSA) to the Sedona area.

Keep Sedona Beautiful made a presentation on the Sedona-Red Rock National Scenic Area desdignation to the Big Park Regional Coordinating Council on Thursday, june 11. Following the presentation the council took a vote whether or not to support the designation. They voted 21 in favor, one abstaintion. This is good news since the council represents approximately 7,000 residents.

Keep Sedona Beautiful President Stephen DeVol’s NSA presentation to Big Park Council, June 11, 2009.