The Sun Valley Planning and Zoning Commission voted Tuesday to recommend approval of Sun Valley Co.'s proposal to develop its Gun Club property northeast of Sun Valley Village.
During the city's second public hearing on the plan Tuesday, April 25, the P&Z approved two associated Sun Valley Co. applications to develop the Gun Club site under a detailed master plan. A master plan application, calling for residential uses 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 was coupled with a design-review application for the Gun Club Nine golf course.
During the meeting, the commission unanimously agreed to approve the Gun Club master plan application. The decision determined the application could stand alone, and does not require Sun Valley Co. to submit master plans for other "Land Use Planning Areas."
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.
At the previous meeting, city staff recommended the city require master plan development applications for the Sun Valley "Gateway" area and the Sun Valley Village core area. The commission disagreed.
Instead, the commission required that Sun Valley Co. address issues that are linked to the other areas—such as transportation—prior to residential development.
The company originally submitted a plan indicating lot lines for 30 single-family homes. The commission requested the lot lines be removed and general single-family and multi-family land-use designations be mapped to maintain the conceptual nature of the plan.
The commission also unanimously voted to approve a design-review application for the golf course called the Gun Club Nine. Commissioner Phil Usher left the meeting before casting a vote.
The golf course design review application calls for a 9-hole golf course starting on the west side of Trail Creek Road and climbing onto the Gun Club site's ridgelines before descending back toward the road.
Before approving the design, the commission confirmed that irrigation water to supply the golf course would not adversely affect Sun Valley citizens.
"Sun Valley Co. is not going to do anything different hydrologically than they have been doing for the last 60 years," said Jack Brown, Sun Valley Water and Sewer superintendent.
The company will irrigate the greens with water supplied by the company's existing surface water rights along Trail Creek.
The commission approved the golf course design with a list of 26 conditions. The conditions set forth that the company shall address the lead issue related to long-term use of the Gun Club facility before construction on the project begins.
As for the future of the Gun Club facility, the company has not determined whether relocation is financially feasible.
The P&Z's approval of the golf course design hinges on the City Council's approval of the Gun Club master plan. The City Council will consider the Gun Club master plan on May 18.
