Friday, February 19, 2010

Hailey P&Z considers growth management

Planning Department calls for benchmarks


By TONY EVANS
Express Staff Writer

Real estate development may be in a major and prolonged slump, but the Hailey Planning Department never sleeps.

City Planning Director Beth Robrahn presented the Hailey Planning and Zoning Commission with a new draft of the land-use and growth-management section of city's comprehensive plan Tuesday. She was hoping to set benchmarks that would outline where growth will occur over the next 20 years.

By 2030, she said, the city's population could double or triple from its current population of 8,000.

"If we continue growing at the current rate, it is unsustainable," Robrahn said. "We will either have to make drastic changes or stop growing."

Robrahn urged the P&Z to adopt target growth ratios that would determine the amount of in-fill development, density increases and annexations.

She proposed that the city set a goal of achieving an average density of four buildings per acre, almost double its current density. Density would be increased by allowing reductions in lot size.

"The more density increases we have, the less need for annexations," she said.

A City Council-approved increase in density in old Hailey seven years ago led to a public outcry and reversal of the decision.

Commissioner Michael Pogue said he was against setting mandatory ratios for the locations of growth, favoring instead a "project-by-project analysis of development proposals."

"I am in favor of increasing density, but by mandating four units per acre we lose flexibility," Pogue said.

He pointed out that no matter what decisions the city makes as to density requirements, the county could still increase densities on the city's outskirts. The county has taken the position through its comprehensive plan that most growth should occur within or near the cities. Citizens for Smart Growth Executive Director Nathan Welch said he would like to see some "clear statements" about where the city will direct growth.

"The city could use two types of growth rate projections—one that might happen, and one it would like to see happen," he said.

The commission will take up the issue again on Monday, March 1.

Tony Evans: tevans@mtexpress.com




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