Hailey will get a new bank building on Main Street, but not everyone on the Planning and Zoning Commission is pleased with that.
A design for a 30-foot tall D.L Evans Bank building on the southwest corner of Chestnut and Main streets passed P&Z design review Monday night. The two-story brick building, complete with a drive-through facility, will house banking and professional offices.
"This is a gutsy building," said P&Z Commissioner Owen Scanlon. "It will be a great addition to the streetscape of Hailey."
Nearby River Street resident Kim Anderson also spoke in favor of the design, saying "This will be a good addition to the neighborhood."
But in an interview following the meeting, incoming P&Z Commissioner Mark Johnstone brought up a more basic point.
"I am philosophically opposed to loading Main Street with banks and churches," he said echoing the sentiments of former P&Z Chairwoman Stefanie Marvel. "This impacts retail activity on Main Street and contributes to the 'urban canyon' look of the north valley. I want to see a vibrant downtown where people walk to shop."
Recently appointed P&Z Commissioner David Lloyd was in the audience at Monday's meeting. Lloyd was raised in Ketchum, where bank buildings have come to dominate Main Street and portions of Sun Valley Road.
"He (Johnstone) has a point," Lloyd said.
Lloyd, owner of Lloyd Construction in Hailey, is taking the commission seat of Mark Spears who is stepping down.
City Planning Director Beth Robrahn said there are no ordinances prohibiting the building of banks on Main Street in Hailey, but that a discussion on what types of buildings should go where could take place when the city redraws its comprehensive plan this summer.
"A general discussion could take place at that time, on what the city may or may not want in certain parts of the city," she said. "But the City Council would still have to pass ordinances to make such changes."
Architectural rendering of a D.L. Evans bank building planned for the corner of Main and Chestnut streets in Hailey. The design passed design review at a P&Z meeting Monday night.
Courtesy image
