The Hailey Planning and Zoning Commission kicked off this week its formal review of the Sweetwater project, the largest housing development ever proposed in the city.
P&Z commissioners discussed Monday several applications related to the proposed 421-unit project, which has been touted as being an affordable, entry-priced development. The meeting was the first in what is likely be a series of public hearings on the plan.
The project is proposed for a 22-acre patch of vacant land located between state Highway 75 on the west and Woodside Boulevard to the east. It would straddle both sides of Countryside Boulevard.
The primary topics commissioners tackled Monday were two applications related to a partial rezoning of the property and several design waivers the developers have requested as part of their planned unit development application. PUDs encourage flexibility in the development of land in order to improve the design, character and quality of new development in projects that provide certain benefits to the public.
The developers have asked the city to grant them waivers on the city's required building setbacks, building heights and length of parking stalls.
P&Z Commissioner Trent Jones said one of the primary tasks for commissioners will be to decide whether the public amenities provided by the Sweetwater project developers are significant enough to grant their request for waivers. Some of the public amenities proposed by the developers include a 1.6-acre public park with an amenities building, two bus shelters on Countryside Boulevard and a city bike path linking the Wood River Trail system with the future Woodside Central Park, which is currently under construction.
The project's overall density was another topic that continued to come up again and again during Monday's meeting.
While applauding the developers and architects on its overall design, Woodside resident Kathy Scully expressed concerns with the high density of the project. "I do think it's too dense," she said.
Others, like Michael David, the executive director of the Blaine-Ketchum Housing Authority, said the project's density is a good thing and shouldn't be feared.
David said he lives in one of Hailey's densest neighborhoods. "It is wonderful to live there," he said. "Everybody talks to their neighbors and there's a sense of security."
The Sweetwater project is a joint venture between Wood River Valley developers Wayne Roth and Jason Roth and a Tennessee-based real estate development company called the 474 Club. As proposed, the development would include several housing types.
Most of the traffic originating from the development would be funneled through the intersection of Highway 75 and Countryside Boulevard. The developers have agreed to pay 100 percent of the cost of placing a traffic light at the intersection.
P&Z commissioners will resume their review of the project on June 5.
