P&Z continues Hailey cinema project
Traffic, parking and design
concerns to be addressed
By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer
Traffic, parking and design questions were
major issues for citizens addressing the Hailey Planning and Zoning Commission
about plans for a new cinema complex on the north end of the city. It would be
located where the Hailey Nursery and the Sakura and Chi Chi’s restaurants are
now located along Main Street.
The commission heard public comment
Monday, Jan. 5, on applications for the Big Wood 6 Cinemas by Sun Valley city
councilman Latham Williams. Plans had been submitted for design review and
subdivision preliminary plat approval, but final consideration of the two-phase
six-auditorium project was continued until Feb. 17.
Citizens were largely concerned about
traffic congestion on Empty Saddle Trail and the impact on the Northstar
neighborhood.
"My main concern is traffic flow," said
Dana Lascheck, a 30-year Hailey resident. "Where are these 600 people going to
go? Will they all pull out of that tiny little intersection ... it is kind of a
mess down there already."
Marshall Smith, who owns the Ski Time
cinema in Ketchum and is a partner in the project, responded that not all
moviegoers depart simultaneously.
Although one citizen said a solution could
be to move the theater out to Valley Market north of Bellevue, commissioner John
Seiller said that suggestion did not fit with the goals of the city to find ways
to keep desired amenities closer in to the city core and prevent sprawl. A
through connection of River Street running west of Albertson’s and through the
proposed cinema parking area has been suggested as the best way to improve
traffic flow in the area.
The extension already agreed to by
Williams would not completely connect the street to the Myrtle Street
intersection, but city planner Diane Shay said Ned Williamson, Hailey’s city
attorney is negotiating with Sutton and Son’s and another property owner to find
a way to push the street through.
Several residents asked that the
commission not approve the project until the extension is completed.
Parking was also an issue. Williams said,
despite detractors’ views, the cinema plan would provide more parking than city
ordinances require.
Neighbors of Marketron, a business on
Empty Saddle Trail, said that some of the employees of the firm end up parking
on the street as the 41 on-site parking spaces can’t handle all of the workers’
cars. The 10,793-square-foot project (14,268 square feet, once a second phase is
completed) includes 79 on-site parking spaces and a parking agreement with
Marketron. The theater parking would be available to Marketron by day and the
Cinema could use Marketron spaces in the evening. The project would include
off-site sidewalk curb and gutter improvements to improve pedestrian access and
create more parking.
Although commissioners voiced support for
the project in principle, they also asked that the architect provide more
detailed plans that diminish the "great wall" effect at the next hearing.