Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Bread and Butter

Ketchum must face planning challenges


By JEREMY FRYBERGER

"Planning & Zoning" collectively describes the process of directing a municipality's physical growth. This process is incredibly important, as it not only dictates how a place looks, but also how it functions and feels; good P&Z can help a city prosper, while poor P&Z may cause the same city to flounder.

At its core, Planning & Zoning is a study of space. Thus, a thorough ability to work with spatial relationships and the mathematical laws that define/ govern these relationships constitutes the "bread and butter" of P&Z work. Unfortunately, Ketchum's Planning & Zoning staff doesn't seem to have much taste for bread or butter.

Although hearts at the Ketchum P&Z Department may be in the right places, the skill sets for good planning and zoning are not. Thus, Ketchum's attempts to move forward (with respect to growth-related issues) are often derailed by a department that lacks the training necessary to properly address numerous city challenges. In addition, in-house personality conflicts too often compromise public work. Given this environment, Ketchum P&Z is a bottleneck (rather than a conduit) for civic progress.

For some time, Ketchum's mayor and City Council have been acutely aware of the city's Planning Department logjam. Yet, as clearly evidenced by a seemingly endless hotel debate, the problems continue. Imagine a hotelier with millions of dollars to invest; instead of being greeted at the city's door and guided through a stringent, yet sensible and clearly defined process, developers of all sorts are too often met with inaccuracy, ambiguity, skepticism, and obstruction.

The good news for Ketchum is that many residents possess a deep understanding of spatial relationships. Unfortunately, though, even the most creative ideas won't help the city as long as its P&Z people aren't able to engage these ideas in a substantive way. It's no wonder that few citizens enter the frustrating process of "collaborating" with Ketchum's overwhelmed planners.

Conversely, if P&Z employees had enough planning dexterity for high-level exchange with knowledgeable citizens, these citizens might be more willing to contribute. If this were the case, Ketchum could likely achieve a far better planning product. In addition, true collaboration between public and private intellects would cost less, require less time, and produce far less civic strife. And in most instances, the city's in-house resources alone may prove adequate.

In spite of significant deficiencies at Ketchum Planning & Zoning, the city has managed to move forward with several landmark projects; Fourth Street Heritage Corridor is a physical reality, giving tangible evidence to Ketchum's commitment to renewed vitality. Keep in mind, though, that the bulk of this creative work, although requested by the city, was done by outside consultants.

P&Z challenges aren't simple. And Ketchum's P&Z people are working extremely hard. It is clear, however, to many who work in the city's growth sector (architects, contractors, developers, realtors, business/ property owners, etc), and to those who simply hope for appropriate, responsible, well-managed growth, that work ethic isn't the issue; P&Z staffers are being asked to provide services that don't match their skill sets. Without question, these challenges require trained professional planners, as well as commissioners who truly understand spatial relationships.

If Ketchum is to lose this ball and chain, the city needs to correct its Planning & Zoning deficiencies. And although Ketchum's current mayor and City Council are not fully responsible for the logjam, our city leaders certainly are in a position to clear it. Yet, if these leaders don't make the necessary corrections, none but the mayor and council should be held responsible for P&Z's ongoing impedance of civic progress.

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Jeremy Fryberger is a Ketchum-based architect.




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