Wednesday — February 11, 2004

Cutters Ranch
annexation
application tabled

Developers present updated plan

---

By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

The Hailey City Council tabled the Cutters Ranch annexation application by John Campbell and Steve Brown after the third city council meeting on the matter, Monday, Feb. 9.

The developers propose to develop the 142-acre Blaine County property on the north edge of Hailey city limits as a residential subdivision, but they would prefer to conform to the zoning specifications of the city of Hailey, thereby taking advantage of city municipal services.

The City Council has been careful to review all aspects of the application seeking to determine if benefits to the city outweigh the impacts expanding city borders would have on city services and infrastructure. New information and a new concept for the property, based on public and council feedback, has resulted in a new plan being forwarded by the developers.

The latest concept calls for a reduction in the number of lots from 135 to closer to 100. The partners also propose to limit building to the west side of the irrigation canal that runs through the property, in accordance with BLM and Fish and Game recommendations for protecting wildlife grazing areas. The new plan would also provide a greater variety of lots, including smaller less expensive properties.

Campbell and Brown borrowed language from Citizens for Smart Growth to articulate their own goals. They stressed the proximity of the property to the town center, considered hypothetically by Campbell to be Atkinsons’ Market, which would make most of the property proposed for annexation within a one mile walk.

"If residential developments, of town site density, are not going to be build on a parcel so close to the commercial core, then where will the people live?" Campbell said, reading from a letter written by Citizens for Smart Growth Executive Director Christopher Simms. "The areas outside of town, particularly the south, will continue to be developed at one to five acres per lot, thereby eating up open space, wildlife habitat and productive agricultural land. These new developments outside the city will have the same adverse impacts on the city as a more densely developed site within the city, with none of the benefits and all the additional consequences. Sprawling development will cause further (Main Street) traffic congestion, polluted air, long commute times, social isolation and unhealthy automobile dependence."

Campbell said he wanted to clarify details about the traffic study that had been submitted at the previous meeting, explaining that he did expect an increase in traffic, but according to the traffic study the partners had commissioned, only a slight increase would occur.

Campbell and Brown addressed other concerns like protecting city well heads and argued that having the lots connected to city sewer should be considered, because he said the safety of septic systems in the valley has not been thoroughly studied according to spokespersons for South Central District Health. Campbell asked if pollution from septic systems was a risk worth taking.

Brown submitted a property tax model for consideration. He said the project would provide tax revenues that would sufficiently cover the costs of the development’s impact on city infrastructure. He also said that according to the multiple listing service available to realtors currently in Hailey, there are 13 properties listed for sale at $300,000 or less.

Describing how home prices have jumped in the last few years in Hailey, Campbell said he wanted to stress the need for more inventory in the city.

"Unless you have inventory, the skyrocketing (prices) is going to continue," he said.

Acting on the recommendation of landscape architect Ben Young, the new plan shows more density in the southwest corner of the property near the entrance to Myrtle Street. Attempting to provide more diversity of lot sizes, the new plan shows less density on the northern portion of the property adjacent to Hiawatha Street that would more resemble current county lots in the neighborhood.

Because the number of lots proposed for the project have changed, the application will be noticed for an unspecified date at which time council deliberation and public comment will be heard on the new proposal.

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.