Becky Zimmerman pointed to the top of a cottonwood grove towering 90 feet over the Big Wood River, the tallest trees at the base of River Run.
"The maximum height of the hotel would be slightly taller than that grove of existing trees," she said of the 110-foot-high hotel that Sun Valley Co. proposes to build as the centerpiece for its planned base village.
Zimmerman is president of Design Workshop, a Denver-based resort-planning firm contracted by Sun Valley Co. to develop its 140-acre River Run property near Ketchum. Also included in the designs are four residential areas that would each encircle and hide parking structures, and a 15-acre "ecological park" along the Big Wood River that would include a nature trail.
Last Thursday, locals got a first look at the preliminary drawings for the River Run village at an open house in the existing River Run base lodge. Even with the drawings, viewers were left somewhat to their imaginations. The hotel and houses haven't yet been designed and were merely represented by colored blocks that show general size, height and placement. Landscaping hasn't been outlined either, but road rerouting and new roads are displayed.
To provide a better visual, Zimmerman led an hour-long hike of the area, stopping first at River Run parking lot and then heading up Serenade Lane to the bike path. Everyone was welcome, and about 40 people came for the walk, including members of the Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission.
Stakes with pink ribbons signified the property boundary along the way.
Zimmerman addressed the issue on most people's minds at the first stop—the 110-foot-high luxury hotel that would include 150-200 rooms, a spa, restaurants, a pedestrian plaza and skier day parking.
She said the hotel would overlook the cottonwood grove by 10 or 20 feet, but wouldn't seem that tall since it would stand near the mountain. The hotel's size would also be diminished by its lowered ground level, which is 61 feet below Highway 75.
Some who live closer than the highway expressed concerns that they would still see a tall building between them and the mountain.
Ketchum resident Beth Grinstead lives near the intersection of Third Avenue and Cottonwood Street. She came to the open house and said she's a little concerned by the hotel's height.
"I don't think it will bother me," she said. "But my neighbors are closer."
She expressed faith in Sun Valley Co., though, and said the village would be "fabulous" for Ketchum.
"Sun Valley always does top-notch work," she said. "So I'm not worried."
Zimmerman said the village's buildings would decrease in height as they approach town. Also, she said, pains would be taken to make the base village an extension of town.
One of the residential areas would be in a field north of the existing parking lot where paragliders now land. Zimmerman said that would most likely be multi-family housing and would be similar in look and height to the three- and four-story apartment buildings adjacent to the open lot. This means the buildings would meet current height requirements for Tourist zoning and would stand at about 44 feet, depending on roof pitch.
"We're extending the pattern of town in this direction," Zimmerman said, "so the houses become part of Ketchum."
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Lisa Horowitz, Ketchum community and economic development director, also mentioned that the steep dropoff from the upper River Run parking lot to the bike path and beyond would be re-graded into a gradual slope for the road and buildings.
"There's going to be a shoving and pushing of the area right here," she said.
Because of this, the bike path would be relocated closer to the river. Area roads—Serenade Lane, Second Avenue and Third Avenue—would also be jostled here and there to make the village an organized area.
Zimmerman suggests a roundabout at the intersection of state Highway 75 and Serenade Lane to handle traffic, but also plans for a stoplight since the decision is up to the Idaho Transportation Department.
A new road would also be extended south off Serenade Lane to two residential areas that would flank the bicycle path.
Residential neighborhoods would cover what is now Ketchum's snow-storage area, as well as the area between the bike path and the river. Cabins with 1,700-square-foot footprints would be nestled into the trees.
Zimmerman said many of the trees would be kept to maintain the natural habitat. Under the plans, the 15-acre area between the river and bike path closer to the lodge would be restored for an "ecological park" and nature trail.
"The channel of stagnant water will be unplugged," Zimmerman said.
Many locals at the open house and tour were encouraged by the plans, despite the lack of detail.
"The details are what most people are concerned about," acknowledged Andy Gunion, project manager for East West Partners, another consulting company contracted by Sun Valley Co.
And that will be in late October.
The plans hinge upon Ketchum agreeing to annex the area from Blaine County into the city. The City Council will make the final decision.
Trevon Milliard: tmilliard@mtexpress.com
River Run P&Z meetings
· Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 5:30 p.m. in River Run Day Lodge. Applicant presentations and public hearings before the Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission.
· Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 5:30 p.m. in River Run Day Lodge. Continuation of application presentations and public hearings before the commission.
· Thursday, Oct. 29, at 5:30 p.m. in River Run Day Lodge. Final commission decision.
Becky Zimmerman, president of Design Workshop, describes the proposed 110-foot-tall River Run hotel as standing about 20 feet above the cottonwoods lining the Big Wood River behind her. Photo by David N. Seelig
