Friday, July 2, 2004

Woodside school proposal advances

Hailey council approves P&Z review

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By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

The Hailey City Council decided to allow the Woodside Elementary School annexation application by the Blaine County School District to go forward Monday.

The council decision refers the matter to the Hailey Planning and Zoning Commission, who will then provide a recommendation concerning a proposed general residential zone designation, conformance with the Comprehensive Plan and other recommendations.

Situated on the east side of the Woodside subdivision against the recreational greenbelt hillsides, the site identified for the school is adjacent to Water Gulch Road.

Planning consultant John Gaeddert of the Corporation for Land Planning and Engineering represented the school district as they resubmitted plans for annexation of about 19.7 acres for the school.

The school is planned to be a 54,000 square foot building, which will have a student capacity of 450.

In September 2003 the council held a public hearing to review an initial request for application, at which time the council sent the application forward for planning and zoning review. However, before the commission review, concerns about the project were identified. The Hailey Fire Chief recommended an emergency access, the school district requested a text amendment allowing a reduction in parking requirements and questions about whether the school district should be required to extend sidewalks into the Woodside neighborhood were also raised. The school district appeared again before the council to address the issues.

In November and December 2003, the application was thoroughly reviewed by the planning and zoning commission at which time it was denied because the commission found it was not in compliance with sections of the Hailey Comprehensive Plan.

After a work session with the City Council focusing on the need for sidewalks and emergency access in March 2004, the school district resubmitted its application with a list of 19 amendments to the original plan.

The list includes mandatory proposals such as a double entry, a 12-foot wide emergency access to Echo Hill Park, a looped water line, detached sidewalks and a new intersection at Berrycreek Drive and Woodside Boulevard. Proposals for elevated intersections and a trail leading to a controlled intersection at the school entrance to improve pedestrian access for children living on the west side of Woodside Boulevard were also included.

Discretionary proposals include making Toe of the Hill Trail and Echo Hill Park improvements and fencing to restrict ATV and motorcycle use along the emergency access road.

At Monday’s meeting, neighbors voiced concerns about the emergency access proposal, explaining that having the access directly behind homes would reduce privacy for both pedestrians and residents.

School district superintendent Jim Lewis said the design for the emergency access was made to provide room behind the school for an extra athletic field.

"(The emergency access road) would not be anymore distracting to the neighbors than a sidewalk in front of the house," Lewis said. He also said the district is open to other suggestions for meeting emergency access requirements.

As the application goes before the planning and zoning commission for review, members of the school district, the city and the neighboring community plan to get together to go over the school district’s proposal and discuss the various problems areas, Gaeddert said.

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