Ketchum eyes own housing project
Council agrees to discuss affordable housing proposal for Park and Ride lot
By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer
In a move to tackle one of the largest problems facing their city, Ketchum city officials agreed this week to develop and discuss a plan to build affordable housing on the city-owned Park and Ride lot, north of downtown.
Prompted by Mayor Ed Simon, Ketchum City Council members and city planning staff on Monday, Oct. 18, took their first stab at weighing a plan that could ultimately provide some 30 affordable housing units on the 5.7-acre site.
Despite reservations expressed by two of three council members present Monday, the panel agreed to move forward with developing a tentative plan.
Simon said he ultimately envisions a development that would include housing for a variety of public employees on a ?small portion? of the site.
?After all, we do own the land, and we do have some cash,? he said.
The discussion Monday was clearly the first step in what could stand to be a long and potentially contentious debate.
Simon called the initiative to build affordable housing on the Park and Ride ?an important potential aspect of something that is needed.?
He said the city could possibly use in-lieu fees?funds received from developers who pay cash in lieu of providing required affordable housing?to build some of the units.
The mayor noted that his vision for housing on the site would in no way hinder the plans of the Ketchum-based Wood River Community YMCA to build an 85,000-square-foot recreational and community center there.
Pursuant to instructions from the mayor, Planning Director Harold Moniz drafted a report that notes the entire Park and Ride lot?which is in the city?s General Residential-Low Density zoning district?could currently accommodate 62 residential dwelling units.
However, Moniz noted, a more likely scenario would be to use a portion of the site at least 1.5 acres in size that could be developed with some 20 or 30 residential units as part of a planned-unit development.
The Moniz report also notes: ?The 1997 Master Plan for the Park and Ride lot did not anticipate housing development on the site.?
In an effort to link the housing proposal with one of the long-intended uses for the site?public transit?city officials have suggested that housing on the Park and Ride lot might be built above a partially submerged parking structure.
Michael David, executive director of the Blaine-Ketchum Housing Authority, said the Park and Ride lot is a ?perfect location? for deed-restricted housing.
?We would love to work with the city on doing a fairly dense, good-looking project there,? David said.
The Housing Authority has estimated that the Wood River Valley needs more than 600 affordable housing units to meet demand.
Councilman Baird Gourlay said he believes it would ?a very good thing? to develop a project on the site that included parking and housing.
Council President Randy Hall said he is not opposed to the concept but noted that he has recently seen ?a lot of public opposition? to use of the Park and Ride for affordable housing.
Councilwoman Terry Tracy said she will not consider a plan to develop housing on the site until after Nov. 2, when city voters will decide whether the council should allocate about one-quarter of the lot for the proposed YMCA project.
In response, Simon directed his staff to develop a more specific proposal for the site that could be reviewed in mid-November, after the YMCA vote.
