Neighbors’ protests against historic landmark designation for the Chapel of the Holy Cross were swept aside by the Sedona Historic Preservation Commission Monday, March 17.

The commission voted 6-0 to approve the historic landmark designation for the Chapel of the Holy Cross. [Commissioner Marjorie Miller was excused.]

Increased noise, more air pollution and additional incidents of trespassing were among the concerns voiced by residents, however, members of the commission denied that the designation would have an impact on the already popular tourist attraction.\

By Susan Johnson

Larson Newspapers

Neighbors’ protests against historic landmark designation for the Chapel of the Holy Cross were swept aside by the Sedona Historic Preservation Commission Monday, March 17.

The commission voted 6-0 to approve the historic landmark designation for the Chapel of the Holy Cross. [Commissioner Marjorie Miller was excused.]

Increased noise, more air pollution and additional incidents of trespassing were among the concerns voiced by residents, however, members of the commission denied that the designation would have an impact on the already popular tourist attraction.

“It [landmark designation] won’t add one whit to the number of people visiting,” Commissioner Greg Ruland said.

However, a nearby neighbor, Joseph Anetzberger, disagreed, asking the commission to delay its decision.

“Any designation that will essentially increase traffic will worsen our situation greatly and it’s bad enough now,” said Anetzberger. “It’s a madhouse, people trying to drive up to the chapel, people trying to drive out, we have huge motorhomes parking in the streets and tour buses parking without permission in the Lutheran Church.”

Commissioner Steve Segner reminded residents that they live in a town where tourists pay the taxes and that the chapel is already listed in every significant guidebook.

In the past, residents said they’ve been referred back to the chapel’s administrator, Dr. Chuck Reaume, and to the police department for enforcement of no parking areas and traffic jams.

“As far as you saying we should handle the problems by calling the chapel, we have had nothing but trouble with the administrator,” Jim Schaffer, a neighbor, said.

“These problems are real. They are big problems, but this is not the forum to have these problems addressed,” Ruland said.

In summing up the commission’s position, Chairwoman Janeen Trevillyan assured residents that they will have an opportunity to make additional comments in the event any further changes to the chapel site or its ownership are requested.

“You live next door to a celebrity,” Trevillyan said. “We empathize with your problems, but for today’s action, we’re required to focus on the criteria for [landmark designation].”

Levin noted that if a land exchange with the U.S. Forest Service was successfully executed in the future, another layer of oversight and protection for neighbors would be added by bringing the property under the purview of the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Currently, the chapel essentially leases the land it sits on from the USFS for permit fees of $600 a month.

Although city documents indicate that the applicants for the designation were the owners of the chapel, Reaume said the chapel did not initiate the action.

“Two representatives from the [Historic Preservation] commission came to my office and asked our permission to look into this,” Reaume said. “We did not initiate a land exchange [either], it was at the recommendation of Ken Anderson, the [U.S. Forest Service] District Ranger.”

Reaume also assured residents that he has no intention of expanding the parking

lot or building a visitor’s center.

The chapel is owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix and St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Sedona and currently sits on 11 acres of USFS land.

A clause in the original application made landmark designation contingent upon completion of a third party land exchange that would give ownership of the land beneath it to the chapel, however, that contingency was withdrawn at the beginning of the meeting by Kathy Levin, associate planner for the Department of Community Development.

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