The Sedona City Planning and Zoning Commission met Tuesday, Dec. 4, to hear architect Rick Crandall describe the design of a monolithic dome planned for the Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park’s performing arts stage.

The Sedona City Planning and Zoning Commission met Tuesday, Dec. 4, to hear architect Rick Crandall describe the design of a monolithic dome planned for the Barbara Antonsen Memorial Park’s performing arts stage.

Crandall said the dome will provide protection for performers, noise abatement for the neighbors, covered seating for 300 people and barriers that will prevent vandalism.

Outside seating will accommodate an additional 300.

Amenities include making the project sustainable, preserving native plants, water collecting and adding trees and shrubs to the site, according to Madeleine O’Callahan, chairwoman of the Friends of Posse Grounds, a community group sponsoring the park.

Marie Brown, a former city employee and also a board member of the Friends, described the history of the site as a place for community recreation.

“This site and park hold a lot of Sedona’s history,” Brown said. “The Stage Coach Players performed on a stage in the ’50s and over the years, there were rodeos, square dances, country fairs, Fourth of July celebrations, [Sedona] Jazz on the Rocks, Apple Festival and the pops concerts.”

Almost all of these events pre-date construction of the newest surrounding subdivisions, and some pre-date the oldest subdivision which sold its first property in the 1960s, according to Director of Community Development John O’Brien.

While some nearby residents agreed that the noise issue seems mitigated by the dome, others did not.

Speaking in support was Patrick Schweiss, a nearby neighbor.

“We can hear the Red Dirt Concerts from our house, but I feel this park needs to be preserved and fulfilled,” Schweiss said. “It won’t be every day and we all need to give a little bit to get something we’ll be proud of.”

Another neighbor felt differently.

“The noise issue will most negatively affect my quality of life,” Margaret Anderson said. “I’d like everyone here to put yourself in my place for 60 seconds when I’m sitting on my deck and  suddenly inundated by loud noise. It forces me to become a prisoner in my home.”

Impromptu gatherings at the park, including drumming groups, occasionally cause neighbors to call city enforcement officers to investigate noise levels.

“We responded to a call this weekend,” Department Services Supervisor Jim Windham said. “But just because you can hear music, it doesn’t mean the group is in violation of the ordinance and, in this case, they weren’t.”

Residents who live along Posse Ground Road and Mission Road were also concerned with more traffic on already congested roads and with overflow parking, littering and trespassing.

David Bowers, who lives on San Patricio Drive, felt that the city’s past performance in enforcement of traffic and parking was lacking.

“Page 10 of the staff report requires that the project not materially detriment or cause nuisance, noise or vibration that will interfere with homeowners,” Bower said. “I feel that it’s premature to approve this development.”

One way to mitigate additional traffic was adding the park as a public trolley stop and also using private trolleys during special events, according to Brown.

Since the city owns the property, O’Brien explained, when construction is complete, management and maintenance costs of the park will be turned over entirely to the Parks and Recreation Department.

While the Friends are raising money for the project and overseeing its design, once the project is complete, the city will have the right to modify it, operate it and even close it, if warranted.

“Friends have raised $235,000 to date,” Jim Bishop Jr., co-chairman of the Friends, said. “Beginning this week, we’re launching a statewide fundraising effort to raise the remainder.”

Jim Leahy, a nearby resident, questioned the funding of the park.

“City Councilwoman Nancy Scagnelli said that defaulted heritage grant funds have been transferred to the Antonsen park and to the Creekwalk,” Leahy said. “Who decided that the $800,000 should be appropriated for only these

two projects?”

Brown said that the state grant would have to be repaid by the city if it isn’t used on projects similar to the Sedona Cultural Park or city trails.

After Chairman John Griffin and the other commissioners voted 5-2 to grant a conditional use permit, Griffin said that the commission’s purview was limited to approving or disapproving the design.

The blueprints and plans must now be taken by the Friends to the Sedona City Council for final approval.

Griffin encouraged residents in adjoining subdivisions who are against the project to make their worries known to council.

“The problems are manageable,” Commissioner Marty Losoff said. “But the community’s concerns are valid.  We need more specific plans on traffic control, noise and parking.”

If the conditional use permit is not appealed within 15 days, the project will become an item for consideration on the city council’s agenda.

“In the meantime, City Manager Eric Levitt and Parks and Recreation Director Bill Lee and I are meeting this week to begin discussions on how best to address the issues of operation,” O’Brien said.

Susan Johnson can be reached at 282-7795, Ext. 129 or e-mail
sjohnson@larsonnewspapers.com