The Sedona City Council and city staff discussed the motivation behind and possible amendments to the city’s Land Development Code and development incentives for affordable housing during a special meeting on Wednesday, June 12, which ended with council directing staff to begin exploring an ordinance to allow kitchens in accessory dwelling units. Council also called for improved renderings of proposed projects and their effect on the viewshed.
The Visuals
Staff explained that the LDC and DIGAH were written to prioritize preserving the land and the views of the land over facilitating the construction of additional housing units.
“Originally they were thinking about things like the views,” Principal Planner Cynthia Lovely said, while Planning Manager Cari Meyer explained that “using the right design requirements” allows staff to “get buildings to fit into the natural environment … without necessarily impacting a viewshed.” Meyer further declared that if a project is “leaving the door open that it could be short-term rentals, that’s not addressing local housing needs.”
Housing coordinator Jeanne Frieder said that staff’s goal is not to build enough housing units to supply Sedona’s need. Frieder cited the number of housing units needed in Sedona as being 1,260; the city’s housing assessment states that 1,480 to 1,515 additional units will be needed by 2025.
Following the discussion of viewshed, council members emphasized the importance of develop …
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