The Sedona City Council unanimously approved the preliminary plat application for the Bowers subdivision adjoining the Forest Road extension at its April 24 meeting, during which multiple members of the council suggested to the property owner that he should consider a use for it other than single-family homes.

The current 2.65-acre parcel at 741 Forest Road has already been physically divided into two portions by the construction of the Forest Road extension, and the subdivision process will split both those portions as well to create a total of four new lots, which will retain the original parcel’s RS-18 single-family residential zoning. To minimize access points, each pair of adjoining parcels will share a driveway.

City staff received no public comments in support of or in opposition to the project, and the Planning and Zoning Commission approved the subdivision on March 19.

“I think this is the fastest we’ve got through P&Z,” said Luke Sefton of Sefton Engineering Consultants, the agent for the project. “I like it when we don’t have a lot of neighbors giving comments. That’s a pleasant change. The only real issue is what to name the mountain of dirt that’s there now, so we’ll come up with a name for that.”

“Lots 1 and 2 are remaining natural, and they’re not bad to build on,” Sefton continued. “[Lots] 3 and 4 right now has that pile of dirt, and they’re building a wall around there … when we get done it’s probably going to be like a 3% slope for most of the lot there.”

“I’ve owned the property for some 27 years,” David Bowers said. “Originally when the property was acquired, it was acquired for the purpose of maybe considering a family compound there, so that we could build several units. Shortly after I bought the property, I had an unfortunate circumstance where I had open heart surgery and I kind of lost interest in developing, so I just sat on the property after that. The property is intended to go to our kids … we have four remaining sons … So it’s really an inheritance.

“I bought it because of its location, and the reason we’re really here today is because the road creates a lot of issues that have to be dealt with at this time,” Bowers added. “For example, the biggest issue and the thing that was the driving force on the lot split was the fact that we have to get utilities to each parcel before the road is set in stone and asphalted, because there’s time limitations where you’re unable to develop the property or bring utilities in and disturb the road after it was built. That was the motivating factor at this time. We are considering all possible uses for the property, and I think at a later time we will probably discuss that with members of the city council.”

Alternate uses for the property were the primary topic of interest for the members of the council.

“Was there ever any interest in seeking a zone change to put more density in there?” Councilman Brian Fultz asked.

“No … we’re going to get it flipped. We need to get the four lots in there and then see what the market does,” Sefton said. “The applicant’s not planning to build on it right now. They’re not builders.”

“So the thought for the future for a potential rezoning would be to zone it commercial?” Vice Mayor Holli Ploog asked.

“That, or multi-family, which is commercial,” Sefton said.

Councilwoman Kathy Kinsella wanted to know if there had been any consideration of “putting a deed restriction in for short-term rental ban.”

“Because they’re developing under their current zoning and aren’t asking for a change, that’s not something we can ask for,” Planning Manager Cari Meyer said.

“Was there any discussion of it being offered?” Kinsella asked. “Was it on the table in any way, shape or form from the applicants?”

“They did not offer it,” Meyer said.

“I share some of the concern that maybe this isn’t the highest and best use of the property, but the owners have some rights, and we have to respect them,” Councilman Pete Furman said before asking whether it would require different work to install utilities for single-family versus multifamily development.

“There’s additional conduit being placed as well that will be able to provide capacity,” Deputy City Manager Andy Dickey said, and confirmed that staff did not expect any delays in the completion of Forest Road due to the subdivision utility work.

City Attorney Kurt Christianson noted that the developers will have to have their plans submitted and approved by the city by Sunday, June 30, according to the current schedule.

“I just want to make a plea to people who are developing property in Sedona that short-term rentals are a real problem for this community and that I would really urge developers … to consider deed restricting the property to prevent the further proliferation of the destructive short-term rentals that have taken over our community,” Councilwoman Jessica Williamson said.

“This is an absolutely plum opportunity for multi-family housing in the future,” Furman added, before agreeing to let the present plan move forward.