< Why would Sedona want a 5,000 Seat theater? (Ai Graphic)

What are we doing? The referendum to reverse the decisions of Sedona's Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council on the "Safe Place to Park" zoning change is controversial. This issue involves a proposal to revive a 20-year-old outdoor event center culture, which proponents argue could be revitalized without using taxpayer money.

It is not about their "concerns" regarding "Safe Place to Park," the city's temporary, two-year initiative to provide up to 40 parking spaces for overnight sleeping for individuals who work in Sedona and are already sleeping in their vehicles.

However, the referendum persists—it is an opportunity for Cultural Park 2.0 advocates to promote the rebuilding of the amphitheater and the necessary parking as a core use of the 40-acre property acquired by the city in 2022. The primary motive for purchasing the property was concern about critical housing issues.

This idea, championed by a new resident and his followers, aims to shift the focus from the current master planning process for the city-owned Western Gateway 40-acre property—intended for housing and parkland—to establishing an entertainment venue with over 5,000 attendees.

 However, concerns have been raised regarding the feasibility and impact of such a project on Sedona, a small town with a population under 10,000. 

Read the Red Rock News article on the history of the massive entertainment venue: https://www.redrocknews.com/2019/03/22/history-of-the-fall-of-sedona-cultural-park/

Critics of this large tourist-attracting amphitheater argue that Sedona would need more infrastructure, including sufficient hotel rooms and restaurants, to support the massive influx of concert-attending visitors from cities like Phoenix, especially on summer weekends. They emphasize the importance of a stable government and a transparent planning process, cautioning against decision-making through referendums, which they perceive as a form of "mob rule.” They remind everyone that the city’s plan on the 44 acres they bought is to go through a comprehensive planning process with public input on the ultimate use of the property which leaves the door open for discussion about anything including resurrecting the amphitheater.

On the other side of the argument, referendum supporters have begun mobilizing to collect signatures. They argue that saving the Cultural Park and advocating for the referendum represents a democratic way to decide on the city's future, ensuring that the citizens of Sedona have a direct say in its development.