The Hailey Planning Department was sent back to the drawing board by the City Council on Monday night to rewrite ordinance changes that would have restricted the building of drive-through facilities in downtown Hailey.
The proposed changes, initiated by Planning Director Beth Robrahn, called for the elimination of existing curb cuts on Main Street, stricter standards for the development of drive-through facilities, and the use of alleys for traffic associated with planned drive-through facilities on Main Street.
Currently there are nine drive-through facilities in Hailey. The council plans to prohibit building any more in a six-block area known as the "central downtown core," and in the Transitional zone, which buffers the southern downtown business district from residential neighborhoods.
"This represents a shift from car-friendly development to pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly development, which is called for in Hailey's comprehensive plan." Robrahn said.
Commercial real estate agent Paul Kenny spoke against the proposed changes, saying they would hinder development in the city.
"Is this ordinance making it easier for businesses to make it in this town?" he asked. "We are talking about Main Street and Highway 75. I don't see this as a pedestrian thoroughfare."
Citizens for Smart Growth Executive Director Vanessa Crossgrove-Fry said the ordinance changes would increase, rather than decrease, economic vitality.
"It would encourage people to get out of their cars and stroll and shop," she said.
Councilman Fritz Haemmerle expressed concern over using language that could prohibit drive-through facilities, and agreed with other council members that the alleys in Hailey are not equipped to handle business traffic.
"There will always be a segment of society that cannot walk to access businesses." He said. "But our alleys are not designed for two-way traffic."
The council expressed an interest in keeping existing curb cuts and working in further detail on the possibility of using alleys for drive-through traffic circulation. It also directed Robrahn to re-work driveway configurations for drive-throughs on business lots on Main Street.
A new plan will be brought before the council in February.
