local weather Click for Sun Valley, Idaho Forecast
 front page
 classifieds
 calendar
 last week
 recreation
 subscriptions
 express jobs
 about us
 advertising info

 sun valley guide
 real estate guide
 homefinder
 sv catalogs

 email us:
 advertising
 news
 letters
 sports
 arts and events
 calendar
 classifieds
 internet
 general

 hemingway

Produced & Maintained by Idaho Mountain Express, Box 1013, Ketchum, ID 83340-1013 
208.726.8065 Voice
208.726.2329 Fax

Copyright © 2001 Express Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Express Publishing Inc. is prohibited. 

Homefinder

Mountain Jobs

Formula Sports

Sturtos

Idaho Conservation League

Westridge

Windermere

Gary Carr...The Carr Man!

Edmark GM Superstore : Nampa, Idaho


For the week of July 18 - July 24, 2001

  Editorials

Hailey needs 
housing rules


Hailey ignored its own ordinances last week.

Mayor Brad Siemer broke a 2-2 City Council tie to approve a four-unit development that did not meet the requirements of the city’s plan or zoning ordinance.

In the larger scheme of things, the development is not a big deal, but the decision is.

As explained by supporters, the city granted approval because the developer promised "affordable" units between $130,000 and $150,000.

For Siemer and Council members Martha Burke and Rick Davis, that was enough to lead them to ignore the city’s own ordinances. They failed to ask for deed-restricted price caps on the affordable housing and got just a $4,000 contribution for park land for their generosity.

It was a shell game, and they fell for it.

Instead of encouraging affordable housing, the city probably awarded first-time buyers of the units a windfall.

Both Hailey and developers would be better off with rules for deed-restricted affordable housing. That way, everyone could recognize a good deal, the city would get real affordable housing, and elected officials couldn’t make up the rules to suit themselves.


The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.