The Hailey City Council on Monday approved a series of rezone applications for lands located within the downtown portion of the city.
In the case of each of the three rezones, the subject areas will switch from existing General Residential zoning to Transitional zoning. The proposed rezone applications were initiated by the city and, in one case, a number of Hailey property owners.
In general, the close proximity of the properties to high-use business areas was the main reason the change to Transitional zoning was considered.
The purpose of the Transitional district is to provide a buffer zone between residential and business areas. The zone provides for restricted business activities within residential areas that are directly adjacent to or across a street or alley from established business zones.
The uses that are allowed in the Transitional district are limited to those that generate relatively little traffic. They include single family homes, dwelling units within mixed-use buildings, in-home occupations, professional offices, day care facilities, churches and parks.
Signaling his support for the rezones, Hailey City Council president Rick Davis said economic prosperity, while in general a good thing for a city, can be a two-edged sword. The impact of having businesses near the properties under consideration warrants the rezone, he said.
"I think the rezoning of this is very timely," he said.
The three areas that will now fall under the Transitional zoning designation are found east of Main Street in Hailey.
They include 10 lots on the west side of First Avenue between Pine and Elm streets, eight lots from Pine Street to 301 First Avenue South and another six lots located at 115 Bullion Street East in the Hailey townsite overlay district.
The rezoning proposals brought out several citizens living near the areas affected by the rezone.
One was Second Avenue resident Garth McClure.
"I'm in favor of this," he said.
McClure said recent language changes approved for the Transition zone will assure that only those uses that are appropriate in the areas being considered for rezoning will take place.
"You should feel very comfortable that you'll get the Transition zone you want there," he said.
While outwardly supportive of the three rezones, Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant advised the City Council to remain cautious when considering such zoning changes because of requirements set forth in the Land Use Planning Act portion of the Idaho Code.
"You can't rezone it for another four years," McBryant said.
