Wednesday, August 3, 2005

Sun Valley opens Comp Plan talks

First formal public hearing scheduled for Aug. 17


By MEGAN THOMAS
Express Staff Writer

The completed draft of Sun Valley's 2005 Comprehensive Plan Update stepped into the formal public process Tuesday, Aug. 2, with a sense of heightened importance being bestowed on the city's entrance lands. The Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Commission considered public comment during the panel's work session to prepare for an Aug. 17 public hearing on the document.

"(The comments) underscore how important the gateway land is," Commissioner John Gaeddert said, referring to the open space at the west entrance to Sun Valley, adjacent to Ketchum.

The meeting was the first formal consideration of Sun Valley's 2005 Comprehensive Plan Update. The proposal was sent to the commission from the city's Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and various consultants, who in April 2004 began to update the city's guiding land-use document.

The commission utilized Tuesday's work session to gather public input and to incorporate public sentiments into the draft.

"You will find by the comments you hear that the plan isn't perfect," Mayor Jon Thorson said. "We are looking for progress, not perfection, and we have incredible progress."

That progress includes an updated Future Land Use Planning Map that designates six parcels as prominent land areas that require special attention.

Among the maps, the "Sun Valley Gateway" parcel captured the attention of the public. The parcel stretches on the west side of Sun Valley Road from the Meadows Parcel to Dollar Road and on the east side from the Sun Valley Red Barn to the Horseman's Center access driveway.

"We should do what we can to permanently protect open space," said Bill Bernham, a Wood River Land Trust representative.

Bernham encouraged the deed restriction of open space for perpetuity, particularly the open-space lands along Sun Valley Road.

One major step for the city comes with addition of "open space" as a land-use designation. The open-space category permits agricultural uses, but precludes development.

"One of the things we solved for future generations is a true definition of what is open space and what isn't. We do not have that definition now," said Wally Huffman, Sun Valley Co. general manager.

The open-space definition would provide for the pastoral use of the property located on the west side of Sun Valley Road to Penny Hill. Previously, the majority of gateway lands owned by the Sun Valley Co. were designated agricultural/recreation.

The gateway land map also designates the Meadows Parcel for public use and establishes 125 single-family and townhouse units as the maximum allowable density in the area.

An additional suggestion came from Ketchum-Sun Valley Historic Society Preservation Committee Chairwoman Anne Zauner, who suggested the commission consider the land behind the Red Barn as one of three possible locations to relocate historic buildings.




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