A proposal to develop downtown Ketchum's largest vacant land parcel took one more step this week in its slow march toward gaining city approval.
Appearing before the Ketchum City Council Monday, Feb. 7, a crowd of some 75 citizens offered a mix of support and opposition for a plan to develop the Simplot lot, the 3.8-acre parcel that comprises two city blocks immediately northwest of the Ketchum Post Office.
In the end, citizens who spoke out Monday supported the plan by a more than 2-1 margin.
"I think it's a great plan," said Keith Perry, who owns Perry's restaurant, located one block east of the Simplot lot. "I'm all for it."
At issue Monday was a proposal to subdivide and establish a development agreement for the Simplot property, all as part of a detailed master plan.
In a series of votes cast last November and December, the city Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the plan.
On Monday, real-estate broker Dick Fenton and architect Jim Ruscitto—who represent the property's owners, Gay and Scott Simplot—asked the City Council to heed the recommendations of the P&Z.
Fenton said the master plan would offer a more appealing and functional development of the site than would a traditional lot-and-block style approach.
"It's going to look better. It's going to work better," Fenton said.
The master plan applications—which Fenton submitted last May—essentially call for the city to give up 33,000 square feet of public rights of way on the site in exchange for gaining strict control over how the area is developed.
In addition, the Simplots have proposed to include 10,000 square feet of affordable housing on the site and to dedicate to the public large amounts of open space for use as public parks.
Key elements of the Simplot master plan include:
· Permitting development of the west half of the property with no more than 30 duplex housing units.
· Developing three large Tourist-zoned lots and two public parks on the eastern half of the property.
· Installing a 136-stall underground parking garage across from the Ketchum Post Office.
The Simplots have not determined if they will develop the site themselves, pursue a joint venture or sell the subdivided parcels and associated building rights to individual developers.
Repeating concerns put forth by some members of the P&Z, council members Randy Hall and Terry Tracy said they are reluctant to give away public land under a scenario in which the public benefits of the project are not guaranteed—unless it is developed in full.
The affordable housing, the public parks and the public parking garage are all scheduled to be built in phases, possibly over a long period of time by different developers.
The P&Z attached a condition to their support that stipulates if no development has occurred on the site in 10 years, the city would regain its rights of way and the master plan would be voided.
"I think 10 years is a stretch," Tracy said. "Either we're going to build it or we're not."
Nonetheless, Tracy said she believes the master plan is preferable to the lot-and-block alternative, which could be "ugly."
Ketchum resident Jake Jacoby said he opposes the plan.
"To me, it seems they want to do this so they can sell this property and make money," he said.
Joining the majority of public speakers, Ketchum resident Kingsley Murphy said the plan is a "generous offer" that should be supported. The city "should not drag the developers through the mud," he said, or it will risk discouraging developers who try to "do the right thing."
Despite the positive comments, property owner Scott Simplot—a member of the family that controls the Boise-based J.R. Simplot Company, a leading agribusiness firm—said he "has some disappointment."
Simplot has offered to sell one of the proposed lots to the city at a discount so it could be the site of a new city hall, but the city has not prioritized pursuit of the offer.
"I really wanted to see a nice city hall (there). A signature city hall," Simplot said to loud applause. "Unlike this building we're sitting in today."
The City Council will hold a second public hearing on the Simplot plan on March 7.
Scott Simplot, co-owner of the Simplot lot, told city officials he is disappointed they are not discussing his offer to provide at a discounted price a location for a new city hall. Photo by Willy Cook
