Hailey plans for
land acquisition
Moratorium placed on developers
By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer
The Hailey City Council
this week decided not to accept any future commercial development plans in an
effort to protect the city’s right to acquire private land for public needs.
The council placed a moratorium
on processing applications for design review and subdivision applications on
properties exceeding one acre in Hailey’s business and limited business districts.
The purpose of the moratorium
is to give the city time to develop an ordinance governing any future land acquisition
for city infrastructure like streets, public buildings and parks.
Of particular interest
are problems concerning pedestrian and traffic circulation.
During the moratorium,
not to last more than 182 days, the city will create a land acquisition map,
which will show locations where the city may want to take property for the public
good.
The Local Land Use Planning
Act allows cities to develop a map of future land acquisitions that may be made
to accommodate streets, public buildings, parks or other public functions, said
Hailey Planning Director Kathy Grotto. Such a plan can be put in effect for
up to 20 years.
The goal of the moratorium
is to curb rapid commercial growth in the city long enough to address related
safety issues, especially along Highway 75.
"This is a major
step in long range planning," said City Councilman Don Keirn.
A new ordinance governing
acquisitions will allow city planners to direct long-range goals for public
improvements.
Mayor Susan McBryant said
the ordinance would empower the city in negotiations with builders. The ordinance
could also involve specific enhancements for the city’s historic downtown area,
she said.
The ordinance would only
affect property within city limits. City projects are not subject to the moratorium.