For the week of July 23 - 29, 2003

Bright leadership

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Surprise.

What may be the boldest move on affordable community housing is coming out of what appeared to be the least likely city to take the lead: Sun Valley.

Last week, Sun Valley City Council members endorsed a draft plan to require that affordable housing be developed as part of new commercial projects.

The council supports a plan calling for 5 percent of the gross floor area of new building projects in the commercial district to be affordable housing units.

The council also called for developments in the zone to devote 3 percent of the gross floor area to space for businesses.

With the move toward development of space for affordable housing and business, the council began to ease the city’s dependence upon its neighbors for worker housing and groceries.

Development of convenience stores in Sun Valley will reduce unnecessary traffic generated by the need for a quart of milk.

Development of affordable housing will help fill the demand for service workers generated by growth in Sun Valley.

The council’s leadership is a bright spot in what could have remained very cloudy issues.

 

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.