Wednesday — February 4, 2004

Plans for a 64-room, three-floor hotel at the north end of Hailey were presented to the Hailey Planning and Zoning Commission, Monday, Feb. 2. Public comment on the design was positive. Final commission approval of the project is expected pending solid plans for street improvements. Rendering by Tobin Architects

 

Hailey P&Z Commission supports hotel plan

Street to be improved by developer

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By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

Plans for a new hotel at the north end of Hailey to be called the Sawtooth Gateway Inn met with positive feedback at a Hailey Planning and Zoning Commission meeting Monday, Feb. 2. Proposed by developer Bruce Allen, who owns the property across from Albertson’s, the 64-room, three-floor hotel with a swimming pool and spa would be part of the AmericInn chain, based in Minnesota. The chain comprises over 200 hotels nationwide.

The hotel proposal received positive support at the meeting, but there are still some details to be ironed out before the plan can be officially approved.

The main stumbling block was a city demand that the project incorporate improvements to a city right-of-way as a new street at the north end of First Avenue where it meets Main Street.

The city would like to see a 60-foot street with room for a 44-foot street, sidewalk, curb and gutter. It would become Snowshoe Lane and run east to the Hailey Middle School. First Avenue would be redirected to go further north around the hotel lot and connect with a future eastward extension of McKercher Boulevard from Main Street.

This week Allen is attempting to purchase property adjacent to the right-of-way that would give him control over roadway improvements. The improvements could then be made concurrently with hotel construction.

Allen submitted a concurrent application for a zoning amendment that would make two general residential tax lots connected to the property and south of McKercher Boulevard limited business.

Most of the interested parties associated with the project attended Monday’s meeting, including investors, a builder and a representative of AmericInn International, LLC.

Architect Tobin Dougherty of Tobin Architects was pleased with the positive input from the commission.

Commissioner Eddy Svidgal, also an architect, was impressed with Dougherty’s design for a two building structure, set back and angled from Main Street. He was most impressed with the diamond shaped architectural features in the rooflines and the way the building steps back with one-, two- and three-story features.

Svidgal did ask if Dougherty could add more of the features to the back of the building for the benefit of neighbors in the Northridge subdivision, which has yet to be developed.

Commissioner John Seiller praised Dougherty and Allen on the color board of materials assembled for the commission’s review.

 

 

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