Members of the Hailey City Council unanimously rejected a proposed increase to the maximum lot coverage in Hailey's Transitional district from 40 percent to 55 percent.
Council members based their Monday decision in large part on a June 23 recommendation by the Hailey Planning and Zoning Commission to reject the proposed lot-coverage increase.
The proposal, which came in the form of a text amendment to the Townsite Overlay portion of Hailey's zoning ordinance, was initiated by an application by Hailey residents Jim and Margie Hill. The Hills own a bare piece of property in Hailey's Transitional district near the Blaine County Courthouse and are hoping to build an office building there.
During Monday's meeting, Jim Hill said only if the maximum lot coverage in the Transitional district is increased to 55 percent would he and his wife be able to build the office building they envision. Without the greater maximum lot coverage, landowners in the Transitional district can't fully realize the value of their properties, he argued.
"Our motivation was to build a building," he said. "I think an office building across from the court building would be an asset to this community."
In general, the City Council's discussion of the proposed text amendment on Monday centered on whether an increase to 55 percent lot coverage would fit into the Transitional district. The stated purpose of the Transitional district, Hailey Planning Director Kathy Grotto said Tuesday, is to provide a transition between commercial and residential zoning districts.
The Transitional district "is meant to be primarily a residential district," Grotto said.
City Council members argued that ongoing workshops looking into various issues surrounding Hailey's Townsite Overlay district are a better place to address such issues.
"I would like to see how the workshops are going to work out," Hailey City Council President Rick Davis said.
Hailey City Councilwoman Martha Burke agreed.
"I can't go against the P&Z," Burke said. "I cannot make a text amendment."
For his part, Hill said the size of his proposed office building wouldn't negatively impact nearby residents in the transitional district.
"My building is no higher that what you allow for a residential building," he said.
Still, Hill's plea on Monday didn't seem to sway either City Council members or local citizens.
"I think 55 percent is too much," Hailey resident Geoff Moore said. "I think the wants of one don't outweigh the wants of many."
