Council allows ‘public uses’ in residential areas

The Hailey City Council approved a request by the Blaine County Recreation District for a text amendment to the zoning ordinance at its meeting Monday night.

The amendment allows additional "public uses" to be added to the list uses permitted conditionally in limited residential and general residential districts.

A public use is defined as a public purpose by a city, school district, county, state or any other public agency or public utility.

The amendment allows for facilities such as a community center, halfway house or safe house to be built in a residential neighborhood.

"This is simple and straight forward," said Blaine County Recreation District director Mary Austin Crofts. "We don’t have any plans."

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During the same meeting, the council expressed frustration toward the Friedman Memorial Airport noise abatement program.

Councilwoman Susan McBryant said she felt the program was not user friendly or effective.

Friedman’s noise abatement program implements a voluntary curfew, which requires all aircraft to operate between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.

McBryant said she heard loud jet motors running until 2 a.m.

"I don’t think calling and complaining provides anything but short-term relief," McBryant said, and also commented that it is close to impossible to provide the airport with its request for the plane’s identification in middle of the night.

"This curfew is a joke," said Councilman Scott Basolo.

Councilwoman Martha Burke, who is a Friedman Memorial Airport Authority member and a member of the noise abatement committee, said she sympathized with the complaints.

"Everyone involved does care immensely," she said. "I do understand your anger, concern and frustration. I suggest you come to a meeting and give your input."

"Let’s get some teeth behind this thing," said Basolo. "Can we fine them? Let’s fine the hell out of them, and see how big their pockets really are."

Friedman Chief of Emergency Services and Operations Pete Kramer told the council that while Friedman does not have the authority to fine air crews, the staff invests a lot of time and energy enforcing the voluntary curfew through phone calls and letters.

"I don’t think there’s a complacency here," he said.

Kramer said the staff is investigating technological and personnel solutions to curb the noise at night.

"Ultimately, though, we can never control what’s happening after the tower closes," he said.

"It’s a few bad apples raising hell with the apple cart," said Basolo.

Friedman manager Rick Baird, who was not at the meeting, shared those sentiments.

"As a general rule, I think the program is very successful, but sometimes there’s the occasion where one individual doesn’t comply," he said. "But, to say the vast majority doesn’t is just not true."