We have lived on Stirrup Lane for the past 15 years. The 12 homes on Stirrup Lane are surrounded by the Big Wood Golf Course. We are concerned about some Ketchum Planning and Zoning commissioners' recent decisions. Block 11 plat is open space on the land situated north of the Ketchum Cemetery and south of Big Wood Golf Course. Here is the plat note attached to Block 11: "Large Block 11 is hereby dedicated to open space reserved for golf course expansion. Any portion of said large blocks not used as a golf course shall remain open space in perpetuity with no dwelling units, development or further subdivision."
On April 10, at the request of Dave Hutchinson, the Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission in less than two hours rezoned and subdivided Block 11 for the purpose of building 19 individual houses. There was very limited attendance at this meeting. Most of the residents who live on Stirrup Lane and the members of the Ketchum Cemetery Board were not properly notified.
This whole process needs to be reviewed. One of the reasons we acquired and continued to live in this marvelous area is because of the plat notes in regard to Block 11. When he was alive, Dave Sellgren, previous owner of Big Wood Golf Course, personally assured us that the Block 11 area would remain open space without any new development.
Block 11 is a haven for fox dens and during the winter elk and deer utilize this open space. If the City Council accepts the recommendation from Planning and Zoning, not only will we have a loss of open space it will set precedent for wholesale rezoning in the future.
Jack and Pat Hoffman
Ketchum
