For the week of November 6 - 12, 2002

111-unit condo complex proposed for Elkhorn

Plans to be presented Nov. 12

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

The owner of an approximately four-acre parcel immediately north of Sun Valley’s Elkhorn Resort has proposed to build a 111-unit residential complex on the site, to be named Sun Villas subdivision.

New York City-based Elkhorn Resort LLC has completed an application to the City of Sun Valley for Preliminary Plat and Design Review approval to divide the so-called "Sunshine Parcel" adjacent to Elkhorn Village into four lots that would each be the site of an approximately 90,000-square foot, multiple-story condominium structure.

Plans to build a 111-unit condominium complex along Village Way in Elkhorn will be presented to Sun Valley Planning and Zoning commissioners Tuesday, Nov. 12. A computer-generated image, above, submitted as part of the application shows how the proposed project would look from Village Way upon its completion in 2007. Architects rendering

The parcel—which is located uphill along Village Way from the Elkhorn Hotel, east of the Indian Springs condominiums and south of the Sunburst condominiums—is currently vacant. The southern edge of the parcel has often been used as overflow parking for the Elkhorn Hotel and the village.

The proposed project is not directly related to a proposal by CG-Elkhorn Hotel LLC to demolish the Elkhorn Hotel and parts of Elkhorn Village to build a condominium and townhouse complex in the village core.

However, the Sun Villas application will be presented to Sun Valley Planning and Zoning commissioners at their meeting Tuesday, Nov. 12, the same meeting at which the panel will consider a new proposal from CG-Elkhorn to demolish several buildings it owns. The meeting is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. in Sun Valley City Hall.

Jack Cloud, Sun Valley community development director, said representatives of the Sun Villas project are scheduled to present their plans at the meeting, but no public hearing will be held on the matter. He said a public hearing on the plan—and likely some decision on the application—will take place at a P&Z meeting later this year, likely in December.

"We are expecting representatives of the applicants to give a presentation of their plans, and then the matter will probably be continued to a later date," Cloud said.

In an application filed in September by project architects and representatives Michael Doty Associates, of Ketchum, Elkhorn Resort LLC proposed to divide the commercial-zoned Sunshine Parcel into four approximately one-acre building sites along Village Way.

As proposed, each new parcel would be the site of a five-level residential building, each with an approximate height of 60 feet. The buildings would be constructed in four, 17-month-long phases, with one structure being completed as part of each phase.

The first phase of construction, proposed to begin in April 2003, would include construction of a 94,000-square-foot, 27-unit building adjacent to Village Way. The following three phases would include construction of one building with 26 units and two buildings with 29 units each.

The proposed Building 4, scheduled to go in last, would be the tallest structure at 64 feet.

An underground parking garage with access from Village Way has also been proposed. The garage would provide a total of 216 spaces, in addition to eight spaces that would be built on the ground level.

A traffic-impact study conducted in March estimated that the project could bring an additional 438 daily vehicle trips to the Elkhorn Village area.

A plan to landscape the site—which covers a total area of 4.26 acres—has been submitted by Eggers Associates, of Ketchum.

The plan calls for construction of the project to be completed in 2007.

With CG-Elkhorn tentatively planning to start redevelopment of the Elkhorn Hotel site next year, much of the construction on the Sunshine Parcel and the hotel site would likely occur at the same time—if the two projects were approved in a timely manner.

 

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