County Approves Golden Eagle II

After numerous hearings, one hundred questions, and thorough consideration of issues great and small, the Blaine County Commissioners gave its okay Monday to phase II of the Golden Eagle Ranch subdivision.

The proposed subdivision—to consist of 27 lots on approximately 132 acres north of Greenhorn Road—is phase II of the existing Golden Eagle Ranch subdivision to the south. The development will fill in one of the last major open spaces between Ketchum and Hailey.

Construction of Golden Eagle II is scheduled to begin next spring.

The Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval of Golden Eagle II’s preliminary plat in November.

The county commissioners’ consideration of the preliminary plat Monday was a continuation of a meeting last week. At that meeting, project coordinator Jed Gray made only brief comments, acknowledging that the commissioners had a reasonable understanding of what the subdivision was about.

The lone public comment was in favor of the subdivision and approval seemed imminent. However, Commissioner Dennis Wright informed the applicants that he had one hundred questions regarding the application.

In the end, after the loose ends of two hearings were tied up Monday, the decision came down to issues involving berms, water, and the developer’s contributions to county infrastructure.

After lengthy discussion regarding berms between the development and Highway 75, the commissioners rejected a condition proposed by the planning and zoning commission that berms be limited to three feet high. Instead, they approved the applicants’ proposal that the design comply with the standards placed on the berms at Golden Eagle I, which allow them to be up to eight feet high.

Gray said the berms in phase II would be undulating in height and have a natural appearance that blended in with the scenery. He said there would be no planting of trees on top of the berms, and they would be clustered so as not to be aligned with view corridors.

Landscape engineer Doug Clemens said there would be 200 yards between berms at the intersection of Greenhorn Road and Highway 75.

Gray said the berm design had been developed in conjunction with the Idaho Transportation Department’s improvement plans for Highway 75 and the proposed changes in elevation of the highway.

Marc McGregor of Blaine County Citizens For Smart Growth argued that there should be no berms allowed at all. McGregor contended that berms do not comply with the county’s subdivision ordinance, which requires the preservation of natural terrain and view corridors. He argued that berms at Golden Eagle II would harm the "very important Greenhorn Gulch view corridor."

The proposed inclusion of six ponds in the subdivision prompted discussion about water issues. Commissioner Len Harlig said 18 acres of ponds are a nice amenity for Golden Eagle homeowners, but questioned whether such water usage was in the best public interest in a county where water supply is a concern.

Gray responded by saying that the county doesn’t have the right to regulate water rights recognized by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, and that the county shouldn’t use subdivision and zoning ordinances in an attempt to regulate water rights.

Dr. Chuck Brockway of Brockway Engineers, a consultant hired by Golden Eagel developer Harry Rinker, said the water rights were structured so there would be no expansion of water use from that which existed for agricultural purposes on the original property.

Harlig told the applicants the only reason the commission would approve the ponds is that the subdivision application was filed before adoption of a county water policy, which gives the county the means to appeal water rights decisions by the Idaho Department of Water Resources.

Harlig added that the board did not believe that the 18 acres of ponds complies with current water policy or that they are in the best public interest.

Harlig said the county’s local public-interest water policy does allow the board to determine whether water transfers are in the public interest and serve a wider purpose. Harlig said that in the future, the board will make a determination as to the applicability of such transfers consistent with the new policy.

In an attempt to clarify the subdivision’s financial contribution to the county, Gray informed the commissioners that the proposal included a contribution of $295,000 to the Blaine County Recreation District for a bike path and tunnel under Highway 75, approximately $1.4 million for the new Greenhorn Road and Foothill Drive extensions, and $112,000 for water rights contributions to Ohio Gulch.