The city of Sedona’s released the results of the recent Western Gateway/Sedona Cultural Park survey.

Sedona City Council asked for a statistically valid public opinion poll to gauge the interest of Sedona residents by sending out a survey to registered Sedona voters, who were each given a unique website link and QR code asking questions about an amphitheater, housing and related elements at the city-owned, 41-acre Western Gateway property located on Cultural Park Place in West Sedona, which the city purchased which cost more than $23 million in 2022.

The survey garnered 1,620 responses, with a margin of error of ±2.4.

The poll was available to take online from approximately March 23 to April 3. The results of the poll were added to prior outreach by city staff on this property and aim to inform future policy discussions by Sedona City Council.

• The first question asked voters for their support or opposition to a proposal “that include housing, commercial/retail, and a community area that contains an event space for public gatherings and performances.
  Definitely support 21.8%
  probably support 21.9%
  probably oppose 12.5%
  definitely oppose 36.0%
  don’t know 7.8%
  Total support was 43.7%; total opposed was 48.5%
• The second question asked voters to rank proposals on a scale of 1 (low) to 5 (high).
  housing 2.51
  apartments and townhomes 2.50
  restaurants 2.39
  retail 2.11
  commercial space 2.00
  community gathering space 3.82
  event lawn 3.50
  an amphitheater 3.05
  community recreation center 3.58.
• The third question asked about restoring “the outdoor live entertainment amphitheater with a capacity of approximately 5,500 people to host public gatherings and stage performances.”
  definitely support 32.4%
  probably support 14.5%
  probably oppose 7.2%
  definitely oppose 35.3%
  don’t know 2.3%.
  Write-ins 8.4%.
  Total support was 46.9%; total opposed was 42.5%.

Of note is that people under 29 were most supportive at 69.7%, progressively falling to people over age 65 at 42.0%.

A presentation with these results will be given to City Council at its meeting on April 28, at 4:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 102 Roadrunner Drive. There will be public comment available on this agenda item; in addition, residents may always reach out to individual City Council members via their emails or to the entire council using the email portal.

Mayor Holli Ploog – hploog@sedonaaz.gov
Vice Mayor Brian Fultz – bfultz@sedonaaz.gov
Councilwoman Melissa Dunn – mdunn@sedonaaz.gov
Councilman Pete Furman – pfurman@sedonaaz.gov
Councilwoman Charlotte Hosseini – chosseini@sedonaaz.gov
Councilwoman Kathy Kinsella – kkinsella@sedonaaz.gov
Councilman Derek J. Pfaff – dpfaff@sedonaaz.gov