New Hailey hotel plan get nod
from P&Z
By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer
The Hailey Planning and Zoning
Commission approved plans for a new hotel at the north end of town to be
called the Sawtooth Gateway Inn Monday, Mar. 1.
Proposed by developer Bruce Allen
who owns the property along Main Street at McKercher Boulevard, the
64-room, three-floor hotel with swimming pool, spa and meeting rooms
would be part of the AmericInn chain, based in Minnesota. The chain
comprises over 200 hotels nationwide.
The design approval came after
architect Tobin Dougherty of Tobin Architects made some modifications to
the backside of the building, and Allen moved closer to satisfying
parking requirements for the property.
"Tobin has done everything we
asked of him," Commissioner Eddy Svidgal said. "He sexed up the backside
of the building."
Commissioner John Seiller said the
hotel also fits inside the confines of the city’s central business
district as described in the Hailey comprehensive plan.
The commission approved the
project before all parking issues have been resolved, but Hailey
Planning Director Kathy Grotto said she expected plans for the remaining
space would be resolved by the time a building permit for the project is
approved.
Allen is trying to secure one of
two properties adjacent to the site for the remaining parking needs of
the hotel.
A second phase of development on
the proposed hotel property could change the parking dynamics as well.
City engineer Tom Hellen said he
felt comfortable that an extension of First Avenue adjacent to the
proposed hotel would match plans by developers of the latest section of
the Northridge Subdivision. But, he said it was up to the two developers
to coordinate their plans for the extension that would connect to an
eastern extension of McKercher Boulevard.
Ken Carwin, owner of the Wood
River Inn spoke in support of the project.
"I wish you good luck," he said.
"I think competition improves us all."