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Copyright © 2003 Express Publishing Inc.
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Wednesday, March 3, 2004

News

New Broadford
subdivision approved
by Blaine P&Z


By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

The Blaine County Commission Monday gave unanimous approval for the Bend of the River Ranch subdivision, an 11-lot, 65-acre subdivision planned about a mile south of Hailey along Broadford Road. Bend of the River Ranch subdivision is the latest in a string of new subdivisions planned along the scenic road paralleling the Big Wood River.

Commissioner Sarah Michael was absent from the meeting.

In approving the development, Commissioner Dennis Wright said the proposal had "evolved into one of the better subdivisions."

The 11 lots to be developed are all larger than 5 acres. Two additional lots include 337 acres that are not planned for additional development. Also, 11 acres will be given to a conservation organization in the form of a conservation easement.

The project was not without its opponents, however.

The ongoing subdivision of the rural land along Broadford Road has upset the area’s residents, who wish to preserve the area’s rural flair.

"If you want to talk about precedent, precedent is a natural Broadford Road," said Mary Anderson, a Broadford Road resident who lives adjacent to Bend of the River. "Let’s go back to precedent and not have subdivisions."

As part of the approval, county commissioners had considered requiring affordable housing from the project’s developer, Nick Vanoff Presents Inc. However, the developer’s attorney, Barry Luboviski, flat-out declined in a hearing two weeks ago to go down that road.

"If you want to require that we build community housing, we can settle this in the courts," he said.

Without an affordable housing ordinance to back them up, commissioners settled on a $70,000 housing impact fee to be paid in $6,500 disbursements when building permits are issued for each of the 11 lots.

Luboviski agreed to the fee, and commissioners said they would hold the money in trust for housing-related projects, rather than transfer it to the Blaine-Kethchum Housing Authority.

Both Wright and Commissioner Mary Ann Mix said they have concerns about giving money to the housing authority.

The Blaine County Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday, Feb. 12 weighed in for the first time on the concept of affordable housing legislation that could require housing as part of new subdivisions or limit house sizes to lessen the number of employees needed to build and care for them.

P&Z members didn’t agree on all the details, but generally said they believed the underlying concept—that large new homes require more support and generate more local jobs that need to be accommodated—was a valid one.

 


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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.





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