Due to its condition, many Sedona motorists may often find themselves avoiding a portion of Shelby Drive. But that should soon change.
On Sept. 10, the Sedona City Council approved a professional services contract with Kimley-Horn Inc., in the amount of $133,615 for the design of the Shelby Drive Roadway Improvements Project.

Sedona City Engineer Andy Dickey said the existing road is in disrepair, which is an issue as this roadway serves one of the only industrial portions of Sedona and is a vital area to the community. This segment of Shelby connects two public road­ways so its connectivity is crucial, he said.

“Improvements to the roadway would allow for potential redevelopment consistent with the Sunset Live/Work Community Focus Area,” he said the day after the meeting. “In addition, there is a need to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and vehicle traffic, which this project will address.”

Design for this project was originally expected to begin next fiscal year, a city report states. However, Economic Development Director Molly Spangler secured a $500,000 grant, so the project was moved up to this fiscal year. The grant has an 18-month timeline from formal acceptance to comple­tion. Design and right-of-way dedication is expected to take nine months, which leaves nine months for construction. However, as the grant has not been formally accepted and the 18-month countdown has not begun, the city is working to get ahead of the timeline and complete this project as quickly as possible.

As for the grant itself, Spangler provided the following background as to what it is and how it came about:

• The funding comes from the Economic Strengths Project grant program. ESP is a competitive grant program aimed to enhance the economic strength and competitive­ness of a community by providing road and road improvement funds. The goals of the ESP program are to facilitate job creation and private investment in a commu­nity. This is a joint program with shared administration between the Arizona Commerce Authority and the Arizona Department of Transportation. Funds come directly from the State of Arizona Highway User Revenue Fund.

• The total amount available for rural communities was $1 million with a maximum award of $500,000. Spangler submitted a grant request in March of 2019 and learned in July of this year that they were awarded $500,000 for road improvements on Shelby Drive. 

• This grant supports the vision adopted by city council for the Sunset CFA. This is an exciting opportunity that demonstrates how community goals of long-term planning, economic development and investing in infrastructure all align. The Sunset CFA plan encompasses one of the few areas in Sedona where more robust economic diversification can occur. However, the lack of an upgraded road and wastewater access are cited as key reasons that more businesses are not choosing to invest in this area. With this grant, the city is able to pay for a significant portion of the road improvements and the city will extend wastewater as well.

The recently-adopted Sunset Live/Work Community Focus Area identified the lack of sewer and road infrastructure as a key issue for development and redevelop­ment, which will be addressed by this project. In 1977, the subdivision plat for the AAA Industrial Park was recorded. The report states that the portion of Shelby Drive that passes through the subdivision — approximately 1,500 feet of roadway — was identified by the plat as a 40-foot private right-of-way. The plat required that each parcel with frontage on Shelby Drive be responsible for 20 feet to the center of the roadway. 

As this portion of roadway is private, the city will have to acquire this portion of land as public right-of-way to proceed. This is in the process of being acquired.

“As time has passed, roadway maintenance has remained incom­plete, and the roadway is currently in poor condition,” the report states. “This is an issue as this roadway serves one of the only industrial portions of Sedona and is a vital area to the community.”

Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 122 or by email at reland@larsonnewspapers.com