Sedona Fire District Fire Chief Matt Shobert educated 13 Chapel area residents about SFD’s intention to buy land in the Chapel area Saturday, but one man is still skeptical.

Sedona Fire District Fire Chief Matt Shobert educated 13 Chapel area residents about SFD’s intention to buy land in the Chapel area Saturday, but one man is still skeptical.

“I don’t think it’s fair to subject our neighborhood to this additional stress,” Mark Casper said.

Casper’s property abuts the 1.52 acres SFD wants to buy from Christ Lutheran Church on Hwy. 179.

“Initially, I think the mood was split,” Shobert said of Saturday’s community meeting.

Shobert arranged the meeting in response to concerns a resident voiced at two SFD Governing Board meetings.

By the end of the meeting, Shobert said his impression was that most of the people now support the purchase.

“I thought it’s the greatest thing that could happen to us,” Chapel area resident Bob Boydston said after the meeting.

Casper, on the other hand, does not agree.

“It’s right in my back yard,” Casper said.

According to Casper, he opposes the church’s sale for three reasons — it’s not fair, SFD didn’t assess the situation accurately and it will have a negative impact on the environment.

He’s worried about the impact the station could potentially have on traffic and noise in the area.

Shobert assures this won’t be an issue.

“I’m committed to making us [SFD] good neighbors,” Shobert said.

Casper said he also thinks SFD has mislead residents by telling them this parcel is the only one feasible on Hwy. 179. He suggests constructing a station at the north end of the Village of Oak Creek instead.

Casper’s rationale is SFD responds to more calls in VOC than the Chapel area. Also, a station at the north end would improve response time along Hwy. 179, Casper said.

“I question whether they’ve even pursued other opportunities,” Casper said.

Shobert said other avenues have been explored.

“We’ve been looking for six to eight months,” Shobert said.

He added he’s sure land could be found to purchase in VOC, but it wouldn’t be strategically or economically responsible.

Two fire stations in VOC would have overlapping response areas, according to Shobert, and still leave a large gap between SFD’s Uptown station and VOC.

“We have to spread out our resources,” Shobert said.

Casper is concerned about the environment as well.

“I have a hard time believing it’s not going to impact the environment of our neighborhood,” Casper said.

Shobert assures SFD plans to be as environmentally conscious as possible when constructing the station.

SFD intends to leave as many native trees as possible and plant more to produce a noise and visual buffer, according to Shobert.

SFD wants to build a fire station in the Chapel area to improve response times along the Hwy. 179 corridor — response times, according to Shobert, that construction of roundabouts on Hwy. 179 may drastically impact.

“The bottom line is response times,” Shobert said.

Boydston, whose wife is diabetic, supports SFD’s proposal.

In the 24 years the Boydstons have lived in the Chapel area, Bob Boydston said he’s called SFD a few times for medical assistance.

Now, Boydston said he won’t have to wait for them to come from Uptown to help.

“It’s perfect,” Boydston said.

Shobert said while SFD is committed to taking the necessary steps to better serve the public, they respect residents’ opinions.

“We’re tremendously empathetic to the concerns of the residents,” Shobert said.

SFD’s board will discuss the contract between the district and the church at its meeting Wednesday, Jan. 24. Action regarding the contract may be taken.