Friday, December 1, 2006

?State of Cities? address focuses on growth

Population boom and housing costs are concerns across county


By TREVOR SCHUBERT
Express Staff Writer

Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant speaks Thursday morning at the State of the Cities & County Breakfast. McBryant joked that her city in 2006 did not propose to ?limit house sizes or change street names,? jabs at the cities of Sun Valley and Ketchum. Photo by David N. Seelig

It's the same story, different year: The governments of Blaine County are concerned about the inevitable impacts of growth.

The Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber & Visitors Bureau held its annual State of the Cities & County Breakfast Thursday, Nov. 30, in the Sun Valley Lodge Dining Room. City and county leaders echoed the major concerns of residents and elected officials alike: how to sustain the inevitable growth of the population and maintain a sense of community in the face of rising housing costs.

The event, sponsored by McCann Daech Fenton Realtors, provided an opportunity for mayors from Carey, Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley to review their communities' accomplishments in 2006 and to lay out plans for the future. In addition, Blaine County Commissioner Tom Bowman and Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber Executive Director Carol Waller provided overviews of the current state of Blaine County.

"We have a commitment to prevent sprawl," Bowman said.

Nearly every building plot in the south county has been downsized from its original zoning as part of the county's completed two-year-long 2025 planning effort, he said.

Carey Mayor Rick Baird said his city is growing, and while the growth is welcome, especially the growing commercial base, "The growth should pay for itself."

The implementation of impact fees for new development ensures developers, and not the current taxpayers of Carey, will incur the costs of future street development, road and bridge development, and the increased fire and police force required for the increase in population, Baird said.

Bellevue Mayor Jon Anderson reiterated the notion that his city, too, is "under major changes."

Three annexation requests there could more than double the city's size, "and it is necessary (that) developers pay for growth," he said.

Anderson said Bellevue plans to offset this growth with the establishment an urban renewal agency and the development of a new community park.

Anderson also expressed concern about the growing burden workforce housing is placing on his city. He said 14 percent of Bellevue's housing is already priced at levels considered affordable by definition.

"People should be living in Ketchum, where they are working," he said.

Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant began by stating, in jest, that her city's agenda in 2006 did not include proposals to "limit house sizes or change street names," jabs at the cities of Sun Valley and Ketchum where such controversial measures have stirred the pot.

More seriously, McBryant focused less on growth and more on Hailey's historic preservation work over the past year. Preservation initiatives included the establishment of the county's first historic preservation and art commissions. The art commission worked to maintain and preserve the historic Ezra Pound house, she said.

In 2006, Hailey also received several land gifts and annexed a 66-acre chunk of land that will be converted into community parks, McBryant said.

"Growth and change is the major focus" this year, said Ketchum Mayor Randy Hall.

He said the past year was a historic year for change and described himself as a person who fears change. The city of Ketchum will work hard to preserve the town's charm and restore what he called "the essential dimension" of the community.

The city recently enacted a 20 percent "inclusionary" affordable housing requirement, and there are "three large city parcels set aside for additional affordable housing," Hall said. Ketchum also recently established an urban renewal division with a $14 million budget. The division seeks to create "no less than 24 affordable housing units" in 2007.

Sun Valley Mayor Jon Thorson was unable to attend but Sun Valley City Councilmen Lud Renick read a statement prepared by Thorson.

Thorson's statement expressed his concern for "the loss of the middle class (in the city of Sun Valley), coupled with the affordable housing crisis." Renick went on to state, on Thorson's behalf, that city leaders there are working to heighten the transparency of government through increased public participation.

Other notes of interest from the event include:

- Waller reminded residents to "Share the Spirit," Dec. 7 to Dec. 9, when Ketchum-area businesses will donate a portion of their proceeds to nonprofit groups of their choice.

- Bowman said one of the largest proposed projects in Blaine County is the $10.5 million jail and sheriff's office construction project proposed for a site near Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey. He encouraged residents to vote in favor of the project in a county bond election on Feb. 6.

- Baird congratulated Carey High School's eight-man football squad on its state championship title. Baird also spoke of plans to provide free municipal wireless Internet access to residents and businesses in Carey.

- Anderson said his city would have a technologically advanced sewage treatment system up and running next July. It should improve wastewater management and the city's reuse program. Also, a new roundabout will replace the stop light at the intersection of Gannet Road and Highway 75.

- Hall said the debate over the proposed street name changes in Ketchum would only affect a few streets. "The goal is to make it easier for people visiting or new to this community to find their way around."

- Renick stated on behalf of Thorson that the city of Sun Valley general fund at the end of fiscal year 2006 posted a nearly $473,000 surplus.




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