Despite a disinclination to do so, Ketchum resident Kathleen Phelan uses her imagination to look out her kitchen window to see development where a rustic scene now stretches out below her.
Warm Springs Creek winds its way through a wildlife migratory path that skirts the River Run base area of Bald Mountain.
In the 11 years Phelan has owned her home on River Run Drive, the vista out her back windows has always been one of her favorite parts of living there.
On Monday, she joined in a tour of the Warm Springs Ranch property, northwest of downtown Ketchum, that brought together city officials, developers and members of the public to address questions about the land's development.
Although the site visit came at the request of the Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission, area residents queried project representatives about condominium structure and density, traffic, speed limits, landscaping and the overall impact to their neighborhood.
The tour began near the site of the existing tennis courts, which are set to be decommissioned as part of the proposed redevelopment.
Contract city planner Lisa Horowitz and project architect Jim Ruscitto pointed out where a bridge, pro shop and other aspects of the recreational facilities would be located if a plan to purchase a small parcel of land owned by the Bureau of Land Management is negotiated.
"The tennis courts will be set parallel to each other, running along the base of the hill," Horowitz said.
And right in the line of sight of Phelan's backyard.
"I'm very opposed to the tennis courts being on BLM land in this setting," Phelan said. "I thought BLM was supposed to be custodians of public land."
Approximately 1.5 acres of BLM land could be sold to Warm Springs Ranch owners as part of a proposal now under federal review. The price for the land has not been established yet, Ruscitto said, but would be set at an appraised value.
Because of neighbors' questions about the transaction, Horowitz suggested the issue of code requirements with regard to the sale should be put as an agenda item on the commission's schedule.
The group walked up to Warm Springs Avenue, where officials pointed out planned bus stop locations and how they would fit in with the bike path, travel lanes, a 14-foot median and rolled curbs.
The crowd continued down Bald Mountain Road to the intersection of Irene Street. An open space between homes is the proposed public access site to a 37-acre public park and preserve that will be owned by the Hailey-based Wood River Land Trust.
The access point has some neighbors uneasy about increased activity on their street.
"I've not met one person in favor of this access," said Irene Street resident Rick Doane. "This is a residential community. We're not interested in being further impacted by this project. I'm not opposed to the project ... but you're unfairly impacting neighbors who are not in favor of doing this."
But having limited access to a public park would diminish public benefit of that land, said Scott Boettger, executive director of Wood River Land Trust.
"It's not our intent to create a problem," Boettger said. "It's our intent to create access for the community. If we don't do it now, we'll never be able to come back and do it later,"
Project director Henry Dean said that alleviating the parking issue might help resolve some of the concern.
"I suspect if there was no parking issue, it wouldn't be an issue," Dean said. "If you commissioners decide this should be an access point, please help us figure that one out."
Increasing public benefit while minimizing impact on neighbors was a recurring theme throughout the day.
"We've got to balance everyone's concerns with our overall desire to get this," Horowitz said. "It's part of our comprehensive plan to have access."
After the group tour, Phelan spread a development map on her kitchen table, alternately studying it and peering out her expansive window.
"This is why I bought this property, for this beautiful view," she said. "I've seen fox, bears, eagles. This is a significant wildlife corridor. Instead of wild terrain, they'll have concrete. This will definitely have an impact on these animals."
However, Warm Springs Ranch representatives have repeatedly said their proposed $3 million restoration of Warm Springs Creek and much of the existing golf course to a natural state would be a substantial benefit to fish, birds and other wildlife.
Phelan acknowledges the benefits of parts of the development, including the restoration of the creek and the revegetation of adjacent lands. And, she said, developers have been sensitive to residents' concerns.
Nonetheless, she is watching closely as the plan is being reviewed.
The commission could make a final recommendation to the City Council as early as tonight during a special meeting to discuss the project at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall.
Jim Ruscitto, project architect and master planner for the Warm Springs Ranch development, points to an area across Warms Springs Creek where tennis courts are being proposed. The Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission and members of the public were led on a site visit of the land Monday. Photo by Willy Cook
