Although it favors plans for a new golf course, the Sun Valley Planning & Zoning Commission delayed making a decision this week on Sun Valley Co.'s proposal to develop its Gun Club property northeast of Sun Valley Village.
"We all want the golf course to go forward, but we don't want to give up any leverage on the residential," P&Z Commissioner David Brown said.
During the city's first public hearing on the plans Tuesday, April 11, the commission considered two associated Sun Valley Co. applications to develop the Gun Club site under a detailed master plan. A master plan application, calling for nearly 400 housing units and a new 9-hole golf course, provides a general framework for development of property located along the east and west sides of Trail Creek Road. It is coupled with a design-review application for the Gun Club Nine golf course.
The city's Master Plan Development Ordinance requires the company to set forth land uses and address transportation, sewer, water and open-space issues for the area. The Gun Club master plan application outlines mixed land uses for the 344-acre property, including the 9-hole golf course, Nordic skiing, and low- to medium-density residential housing.
The Gun Club master plan is the first application the P&Z has considered under the new ordinance, which became apparent as the commission struggled to determine if the master plan application can stand alone. The commission decided to continue to deliberations to April 25 and 26 to determine if the Gun Club master plan application is linked to other designated "Land Use Planning Areas."
The commission has the discretion to request other master plans for such areas before considering the Gun Club submittal and the golf course design-review application.
City staff recommended the city require master plan development applications for the Sun Valley "Gateway" area and the Sun Valley Village core area. Staff determined the Gun Club is integrally linked to the other areas by components such as workforce housing, traffic and transit. The recommendation called for submittal of the two other master plans prior to the review of residential development design or review of a golf clubhouse/Nordic center design or commencement of golf course play.
At the meeting, the commission directed city staff to return with a report to allow the Gun Club land parcel to stand alone.
Sun Valley Co. representatives argued the land area is isolated from the company's other properties.
"We really believe that this golf course (planning area) can stand alone and be approved on its own," said Colorado-based land planner Becky Zimmermann, a consultant to Sun Valley Co.
Huffman said the master plan mapping and debate of two other areas would take approximately two years. "I can tell you, Mr. Holding (owner of Sun Valley Co.) believes the health of his company and the resort needs to start sooner than two years down the road," he said.
Plans tentatively call for Sun Valley Co. to begin golf course construction in mid-May, with the course scheduled to open in 2008. Single-family residential development is slated to begin in 2007, with the multi-family condominium projects to follow in 2008.
Wally Huffman, Sun Valley Co. general manager, argues the city should move forward to consider a new golf course at the Sun Valley Gun Club property northeast of Sun Valley Village. Photo by Willy Cook
