Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Arts center wants out of housing mandate


By REBECCA MEANY
Express Staff Writer

The Sun Valley Center for the Arts may soon have a new building, but it may not have an affordable housing unit.

The Center, through attorney Jill Eshman, requested from the Ketchum City Council Monday an exemption from affordable housing requirements or in-lieu fees.

"The Center desires to remove the housing from within the structure due to the realization that the incompatibility of the uses between housing tenants and the Center's operation provide neither party the desired complimentary environment," Eshman wrote in a letter to the council. "The Center envisions evening programming as frequently as five nights per week as well as on weekends, which clearly will not provide a mutually respectful environment for housing within the same physical structure."

Eshman also argued that The Center provides "substantial public benefit to the community."

Executive Director Sam Gappmayer added that on-site housing could affect The Center's accredited status.

Mayor Randy Hall said he was more inclined to accept an in-lieu payment than release The Center from affordable workforce housing requirements altogether.

While City Council members said they were comfortable with finding an alternative option for The Center, Councilman Ron Parsons said they should establish guidelines for nonprofit entities in order to better respond to requests.

If and when other nonprofit groups approach the city with waiver requests, he said, the city should be prepared to respond with a clear policy.

Standards for waiving requirements for nonprofit groups should be "tighter" than 501(c)(3) status, said Councilman Steve Shafran.

The council approved a separate request from The Center that its building be designated a "civic" structure, which will give the organization more flexibility in design under current code.

Councilwoman Terry Tracy said she had been deluged by e-mails in support of The Center.

Applicant Simplot Ketchum Property received approval in 2005 to subdivide and develop under a detailed master plan the 3.8-acre parcel that stretches out over two city blocks across the street from the Ketchum Post Office. Part of the plan is a new home for the Sun Valley Center for the Arts.

The city vacated 33,000 square feet of public rights of way as part of the overall plan, including an undeveloped portion of Fifth Street and an alley that will bisect the property.




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