"It's my goal to walk away from here with a 5-0 recommendation (from the Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission) to the City Council."
—Henry Dean, Project director
Ketchum Planning and Zoning commissioners this week upped the ante in their poker-like negotiations with representatives of an estimated $200 million plan to redevelop Warm Springs Ranch.
In a special meeting Wednesday, Dec. 22, P&Z members told Warm Springs Ranch owner Sun Valley Ventures that they want the proposed redevelopment of the 77-acre property north of downtown Ketchum to include approximately 30 units of affordable housing.
At the same time, P&Z commissioners said they want the developers to somehow compensate the community for a loss of recreational facilities that would come pursuant to their plans.
After going around in circles about how the developers might replace eight private tennis courts being phased out at Warm Springs, the P&Z finally asked the property owners to make a cash offer to the city to mitigate the loss.
Henry Dean, Sun Valley Ventures project director, said the group would try to modify its plans to satisfy the city.
"It's my goal to walk away from here with a 5-0 recommendation to the City Council," Dean told the P&Z.
At issue Wednesday was Sun Valley Ventures proposal to redevelop the high-profile Warm Springs Ranch property with a mix of residences, commercial operations and public open space.
The key aspects of the plan call for annexing into Ketchum approximately 65 acres of land under the jurisdiction of Blaine County and completely redeveloping about 9 acres already within the city's boundaries.
The most significant aspects of the Sun Valley Ventures development plan call for constructing a 60-unit boutique hotel, called the Lodge at Warm Springs Ranch, developing 75 condominiums and townhouses—in part where the eight tennis courts now exist—and building a new Warm Springs Ranch Restaurant.
Dean said Wednesday that the new resort—which would be operated by Washington-based Noble House Hotels and Resorts—could be developed in conjunction with a cosmetic-surgery program in which patients recover at Warm Springs Ranch.
In exchange for approval, Sun Valley Ventures has proposed to include in the project a list of amenities to benefit the city and the public at large.
The group's most recent offer proposes to designate approximately 37 acres of the property as a public park and nature preserve, complete a $2 million restoration of Warm Springs Creek and build 20 units of on-site affordable housing. In addition, Sun Valley Ventures has offered to build six new tennis courts on city property.
P&Z commissioners agreed to let the developer propose a cash gift to the city for recreation facilities instead of piecing together a plan to replace the lost tennis courts.
Concurrently, Dean agreed to research a plan to include 30 units of affordable housing in the project, if it would "put the issue to bed."
It is anticipated that the P&Z will review the Warm Springs Ranch project for several months before making a recommendation to the City Council on whether it should be approved. The P&Z will hold its next hearing about the project on Wednesday, Jan. 12.
