The city of Sedona is not in the business of giving over rights-of-way to the general public. But there are always exceptions.

The decision to do that was discussed by the Sedona City Council for two hours at a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 13.

In the end council chose to delay any decision for now in order to allow a pair of land owners to meet with the city to find a suitable solution for everyone involved.

The item will then come back before council at an unde­termined date.

A city report states that the owner of the property at 1800 and 1900 Cline Road, Philippe Buillet, has requested that the city abandon 25 feet of the 50- foot Cline Road right-of-way adjacent to his property, a total area of approximately 5,212 square feet. The abandoned right-of-way would then be incorporated into the properties at 1800 and 1900 Cline Road to facilitate construction of a driveway between the end of the existing improved roadway and the new residences.

 The city would retain a 25-foot-wide right-of-way to connect Cline Road to the National Forest parcel to the west of the project site. Buillet will be responsible for the reloca­tion of the existing Cline trail to the remaining portion of the Cline Road right-of-way.

According to City Engineer Andy Dickey, the reasoning for the sit-down with Buillet and the landowner across the road is because of Buillet’s desire to build a residence.

He will need to develop a plan for a driveway and the city will need to coordinate that with what they work out with the owner to the north. This could mean abandoning a portion of the right of way to each of them and keeping a portion for the trail. Or it could mean abandoning a portion to one of them and fitting proposed improvements into the remaining portion of the right-of-way, which is what was being origi­nally proposed to council.

By coincidence, Buillet also owns property located at 665 Sunset Drive on the southern side of the city. The city needs to acquire some portion of that parcel for the Shelby/Sunset roadway and pedestrian improvements project currently under design.

Buillet has agreed to the land swap.

Time is somewhat of the essence in terms of the pedestrian project. The city received a grant to help fund that endeavor as part of the Economic Strength Projects program. The Arizona Department of Transportation, which administers the funds, gave a deadline of March 2021 to have the pedes­trian improvements done in order for the city to receive the funds. But because of COVID-19, ADOT allowed the city to extend that to March 2022 for completion.

According to state law, the properties being exchanged do not need to be commensurate in value. However, the report states that it should be noted that the property the city seeks to acquire is approximately 30% larger than the proposed right-of-way abandonment — 6,811 square feet compared to 5,212 square feet. And, the 665 Sunset parcel has higher intensity zoning which is generally considered higher value than residential property.

“The abandonment is mutually beneficial between the city and the adjacent property owner,” the report states. “By abandoning this area, the driveways for the adjacent parcels will not be located on public property, which reduces liability for the city and reduces future maintenance responsibility.

“It is not preferable to have long private driveways within public right-of-way. In addition, the trail reconstruction benefits the city’s effort to improve walking and biking in the city.”