Hailey is taking steps to focus development in the city center, prohibit drive-through facilities and reduce the number of curb cuts on Main Street.
The City Council voted Monday night to add two criteria that could limit rezones of residential property in the city to transitional, limited business or business zoning. These rezones typically increase the value of property because they allow for multiple uses, including commercial development.
Based on concerns that there may be underused business-zoned property in the city, the council voted to consider nearby commercial-space vacancy rates before granting a rezone.
"A lower vacancy rate will favor a rezone. A higher vacancy rate will not favor a rezone," said City Planning Director Beth Robrahn, who initiated the ordinance change.
The city also voted to prioritize rezoning requests that are closer to the city's downtown core, in keeping with the city's comprehensive plan.
"A shorter distance from the city core will favor a rezone," Robrahn said.
The council tabled discussion on a proposed ordinance that would prohibit construction of drive-through facilities, curb cuts and redevelopment of existing curb cuts on Main Street. Robrahn said the standards were proposed to "prioritize pedestrian use" of sidewalks in the city.
"This is basically a safety issue," she said.
Several property and business owners spoke in opposition to the ordinance Monday night, including Karen Fisher of Karen's Pharmacy, which has operated with a drive-through since 1989.
"I built the drive-through for seniors, but found that parents with children use it even more," she said.
The council will take up the proposed ordinances at 5:30 p.m. at its Dec. 22 meeting.
