Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Hailey Council OKs Myrtle Street rezone

Uhrig prevails despite P&Z denial


By TONY EVANS
Express Staff Writer

Ted Uhrig's efforts will bring a small change to the city of Hailey's zoning map. The City Council voted Monday to "up-zone" about half an acre of property he owns behind Uptown Mini-Mart on Myrtle Street from General Residential to Limited Business zoning.

Consultant Linda Haavik and attorney Jim Phillips represented Uhrig at the meeting. They asked the council to reverse a decision by the Planning and Zoning Commission to deny a rezone of seven lots at 17 Myrtle St. The property is separated by only a 26-foot alley from a sandwich shop, gas station, smoke shop and other businesses on Main Street.

Haavik said Uhrig's property is "no longer appropriate for residential development." The council agreed, despite warnings by Councilwoman Carol Brown that "business creep" into Old Hailey was a serious concern of some Hailey residents.

"There could be a domino effect south along First Avenue," Brown said.

In December, the P&Z had voted unanimously to deny the rezone, citing several issues, including the glut of commercial property in the city and opposition to changing zoning status on only a portion of a city block.

The council overturned the decision, citing the intensity of nearby commercial activity and close proximity to the downtown core as reasons for granting the rezone.

Councilwoman Martha Burke suggested rezoning the entire block on which Uhrig's property sits, including a small apartment complex, to Limited Business. The rest of the council agreed, and will move forward with the plan, which will require a public hearing.

"The area is in such need of revitalization," Burke said.

Rather than allowing business zoning to creep south on First Avenue from Myrtle Street, the council expressed a desire to see businesses established toward the north end of the city in the vicinity of the new AmericInn Hotel on Cobblestone Lane.

Portions of Uhrig's property have been used as a staging and storage area for many years by the Uhrig Fencing Co., a nonconforming use that the city will continue to allow as long as the use does not change.

The rezone will increase the value of the property by increasing allowable building density and expanding the number and types of uses allowable on the property, including commercial uses.

In other business, the council passed a resolution in support of establishing the U.S. military's $3 billion F-35 Lightning II jet aircraft at Mountain Home Air Force Base.

Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com




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