It doesn't take a soothsayer to realize that the biggest challenge Wood River Valley residents will increasingly face is that of striking a balance between development pressures and less tangible, but no less important, quality of life concerns.
The proposed redevelopment of the Warm Springs Ranch—currently before the Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission—is an ambitious proposal with significant economic effects. Equally important, the current plan addresses issues vital to the community: affordable housing, open space and community recreation facilities.
Before the commission is a proposal to develop 77 acres, 65.75 of which would be annexed into Ketchum. A little more than 11 acres of the property are already within Ketchum city limits. Development group Sun Valley Ventures hopes to build a 60-unit hotel, 75 condominiums and townhouses, a new Warm Springs Restaurant and 180-vehicle parking structure.
For the opportunity to proceed with its project, Sun Valley Ventures is offering the community 30 affordable housing units, a 37-acre public park, a public hiking trail connecting Warm Springs to River Run, a promise to spend $3 million in restoring land along Warm Springs Creek, six public tennis courts and $7,000 per year for five years to fund a youth golf program at Bigwood Golf Club in Ketchum.
Ketchum needs a hotel. It needs affordable housing. Warm Spring Creek needs restoration. A large public park and hiking trails add real value to an economy fueled by the area's natural beauty and recreational opportunities.
Credit is due city officials who have negotiated these public benefits. But now is not the time to be greedy.
The objections to the project are pretty weak—mostly of the Not It My Back Yard variety or the absurd complaint that we are losing affordable golf. Affordable golf?
Most communities contend with coal plants, or prisons, or dairy farms in their backyards—not a 60-room boutique hotel, high-end condos and 37-acres of open space.
Should the P&Z and City Council decide to deny annexation, Sun Valley Ventures has other options. Under county zoning, the group could very easily develop 40 or so McMansions with no public facilities or access. Is that really what we want or need?
It is a rare day when someone is willing to inject $200 million into a small community and, at the same time, provide amenities that the community actually values.
The P&Z meets 5:30 p.m. tonight at Ketchum City Hall. We urge you attend and support annexation of Warm Springs Ranch.
