The group planning to develop Quigley Canyon intends to build homes at the eastern end of the divide in Deadman Gulch an above Quigley Pond, whether or not the city of Hailey agrees to annex the property.
Development representative David Hennessy told the Hailey City Council Tuesday that if the city declines his proposal to annex into Hailey some 1,100 acres of the canyon, he would develop the areas on the eastern end under the jurisdiction of Blaine County. However, county regulations could prohibit him from carrying out such plans.
Hennessy's goal of building in these areas has drawn criticism from the Idaho Fish and Game Department, the Hailey Planning and Zoning Commission and citizens. The primary concern is about the impacts residential development would have on the environment, particularly wild animals that inhabit the area.
The Hailey City Council closed the public comment period on the proposed annexation this week and will begin final deliberations on the request next month. The larger plan calls for developing 378 home sites, an 18-hole public golf course, Nordic trails and a year-round clubhouse after the annexation is approved.
Hennessy has told the council that he will scrap plans to build the golf course, trails and clubhouse for the city if he is unable to build "estate lots" above Quigley Pond and in Deadman Gulch. Without the public amenities in the annexation plan, the city might not approve it.
In response to pressure from the council to prohibit building on the eastern end of the property, Hennessy reduced the number of homes he plans to build from 20 to 10 above the pond, and from eight to four in Deadman Gulch.
On Tuesday, Hennessy presented to the council a backup plan that he could employ if the city denies annexation. That plan calls for building under county zoning ordinances about 25 large homes above Quigley Pond and in Deadman Gulch.
After seeing the alternative plan for the first time Tuesday, Blaine County Regional Planner Jeff Adams said the county would likely prohibit the building of homes in the sensitive areas. He said the county would allow 110 homes overall, rather than the 378 proposed in the Hailey application.
"Due to the Mountain Overlay District and wildlife concerns, the density in those areas would be pushed down valley," Adams said.
Adams is preparing a map for the council of all areas, if any, in Deadman Gulch and above Quigley Pond that would be developable under county regulations. He told the Mountain Express that a new Mountain Overlay District ordinance and Planned Unit Development ordinance will soon be voted on by the county Planning and Zoning Commission.
If these updated ordinances pass, they could further restrict what the developer would be able to build in the upper Quigley Canyon area.
"It would be a whole new ball game," Adams said.
Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com
