Last year the city of Sedona purchased land with the intention of building a transit hub on the location in the next two to three years.
But in the interim, it’s putting the property to good use, while bringing in a few bucks in the process.
During its Tuesday, May 25, meeting, the Sedona City Council approved an agreement with Arizona Safari Jeep Tours to lease land located at 65 and 121 Brewer Road and 215 W. State Route 89A.
According to a city report, currently there is a need for parking in the area around the Y-Intersection, including at the Safari Gas Station.
Safari Jeep Tours is in the process of acquiring permanent long-term parking to address its needs. This parking agreement will allow Safari to use the city-owned parcel for parking in the short term for $500 per month through Dec. 31 of this year.
The lease could be extended possibly longer on a month-to-month basis. This rate exceeds parking rates paid by the city in other areas near Uptown.
In the city’s other parking lease agreements, the city pays an average of $123 per space per year. Based on a maximum of 30 vehicles using this parking, this equates to a payment to the city of $200 per vehicle per year.
The vehicles allowed on the lot will be Jeeps not in use and employee vehicles.
The parking is just half of the agreement. On the property is a house on the 65 Brewer Road parcel. Safari requested a lease for the residence as well to provide housing for its staff currently commuting from Flagstaff.
This is not a long-term housing solution, but is a short-term agreement due to the need to maintain the city’s ability to use the property, when necessary, the report states.
The residential lease rate will be $1,500 per month through Dec. 31 and possibly longer on a month-to-month basis. Each party can cancel the parking or residential lease with a 30-day notice.
