For the week of January 8 - 14, 2003

Northridge developers propose business park

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

The developers of Northridge subdivision in Hailey have proposed to rezone approximately 30 undeveloped acres on the southwest side of the subdivision to accommodate a business park and other commercial uses.

Elliot and Mark Caplow, acting as principal representatives of Los Angeles-based EMOSA LLC, have formally asked the city to adopt changes to its comprehensive plan that would effectively extend Hailey’s designated Central Business District northward to include parts of Northridge between Wood River Middle School and Highway 75.

Kathy Grotto, Hailey planning director, said the proposed changes to the city’s comprehensive plan are a prerequisite to part of a pending application by EMOSA to rezone the land for various commercial and business uses.

"In order for them to get Business zoning, they have to first get approval for the comprehensive plan text amendment," Grotto said.

EMOSA has informally proposed to incorporate the western sections of the undeveloped area near Highway 75 in the city’s designated Business district, and the eastern area near Wood River Middle School in the Service/Commercial/ Industrial zoning district.

The area is proposed to be called the Northridge Neighborhood Business Park.

The majority of the land is currently part of the city’s Limited Residential-2 zoning district, which allows residences on 12,000-square-foot-minimum lot sizes. The remainder of the land in question is zoned General Residential.

Hailey Planning and Zoning commissioners at their meeting Tuesday, Jan. 21, will consider the EMOSA proposal to enlarge the city’s Central Business District. The meeting and public hearing is set for 6:30 p.m. at the Old County Courthouse in downtown Hailey.

Grotto last week explained that the city’s comprehensive plan currently establishes the northern boundary of the business district on the east side of Highway 75 at a point just beyond McDonald’s restaurant, southwest of the proposed business park.

Representatives of EMOSA in their application said they believe the comprehensive plan amendment and rezone proposal should be approved because recent development in the area—most notably the new Albertson’s shopping center on the west side of Highway 75—has made the undeveloped Northridge property "undesirable for residential development."

The application noted that the SCI-zoned land would be used to accommodate a business park that would create a "buffer between the commercial uses (adjacent to Highway 75) and the existing residential and school properties."

Several city officials have formally submitted comments on the proposal to the city Planning Department.

City Attorney Ned Williamson noted that city officials would need to examine whether it wants to establish an SCI zone next to residential neighborhoods and Wood River Middle School.

Hailey Fire Chief Mike Chapman noted that rezoning the land could increase the demand for fire-suppression services.

Developer Elliott Caplow, a resident of Ketchum, could not be reached for comment.

P&Z commissioners on Jan. 21 will be asked to put forth a recommendation on the plan to the Hailey City Council, which will make a final determination as to whether it is approved.

 

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