P&Z advocates a recommitment to affordable housing
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
The Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday night concluded that
the city needs to recommit itself to affordable housing.
As part of their consideration of the city’s draft comprehensive
plan, commissioners said they will add a statement to the plan that focuses city efforts
on land acquisition in order to promote construction of affordable housing.
Additionally, the commission decided to back off of language promoting a
"no net loss" of the city’s existing housing stock.
Members of the public have argued over the past three months that a
"no net loss" policy could take property owners’ redevelopment capabilities
away by forcing them to rebuild what’s been there historically.
"We have to be a lot more dramatic," Commissioner Susan Scovell
said in regards to the city’s waning affordable housing program.
Ketchum housing commission member Beth Calister sided with the
commission’s recommendations.
"The council definitely needs to decide whether they’re
committed to this," she said.
