House tour
request tabled
Foundation wants OK to let
public ring Papa’s door bell
By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer
A plan to conduct public tours at
the onetime Ketchum residence of renowned writer Ernest Hemingway has
prompted a series of discussions over the impacts the activity might
have on the surrounding neighborhood.
Convening Monday, March 8, to
consider an application by the Idaho Hemingway House Foundation to use
the approximately 16-acre Hemingway House property as a venue for public
tours and writing workshops, Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commissioners
ultimately delayed taking action on the proposal.
The Idaho Hemingway House
Foundation is a non-profit group charged with overseeing Hemingway’s
former Ketchum residence, a 20th century log home located at 400 Canyon
Run Boulevard.
The group has applied to the city
for a conditional use permit to allow limited public access to the site,
which is located adjacent to a residential neighborhood. In addition,
the foundation has applied for a text amendment to the city’s Limited
Residential district zoning code to make the proposed uses permissible
by the city.
Commissioners determined that they
would like the newly formed Ketchum Historical Commission to review the
proposed changes to the zoning code to consider whether the planned uses
are appropriate.
The P&Z voted to delay
consideration of both requests until an unspecified date after the
Historical Commission has reviewed the plan.
Hemingway bought the property in
1959. The Idaho Hemingway House Foundation now is party to an agreement
to lease and manage the house and surrounding property.
Numerous neighbors of the site
have voiced opposition to the proposed plan.
However, neighbor Jonathan Neeley
said Monday that neighbors have had "productive" meetings with
proponents of the plan and would like to continue the discussions.
The matter will likely be reviewed
again in April.