It's official. A Washington grocer has filed the necessary pre-application form to build the Ketchum Market, along with a drug store.
The landowner first declared an intention to build a supermarket four months ago—when the property was bought—but this is the first step toward getting city permission to build.
The 2.4-acre lot was formerly home to Stock Building Supply at the intersection of Warm Springs Road, Tenth Street and Lewis Street.
Seattle attorney Peter Buck has been the landowner's spokesman since the property was obtained, but he said the grocer wished to remain anonymous for the time being. Now that an application has been filed with the city, the grocer's identity has been revealed as Valmark Inc., the holding company of Kings Market in Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island, in Washington. This company is unrelated to King's department store in Hailey.
Valmark has submitted a preliminary site plan outlining the footprint of a 31,500-square-foot market and a stand-alone, 3,155-square-foot drugstore. About 98 parking places are planned on site.
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However, a grocery store is not allowed in this northern area of town, known as the light-industrial zone. The zone starts at this property and extends northward on the west side of Main Street.
Lisa Horowitz, Ketchum community and economic development director, said the light-industrial zone is "very limiting" to retail and offices, allowing only small ones. She said that was done to prevent downtown kinds of businesses from "creeping" outward from Main Street.
Horowitz said the city plans on amending its zoning code to create the Employment Enterprise Zone. That would permit a broader range of businesses to open there—such as the market—as long as they employ at least 25 full-time workers and operate year round. The new zone would also require businesses to be under single ownership and meet Ketchum's community-housing obligations. The housing rule states that community housing must be equal to 20 percent of the project's gross floor area.
"We support this amendment to our zoning code," said Mayor Randy Hall. "Importantly, it also keeps smaller businesses and professional offices within our downtown retail core, which is important to the life of the city."
The Ketchum Market application includes plans for 7,305 square feet of affordable housing, or 10 units, above the store. That meets the city's requirement.
Creation of the new zone would have to pass the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. The P&Z is set to have a public hearing on the issue during its May 24 meeting starting at 5:30 p.m.
Trevon Milliard: tmilliard@mtexpress.com
Valmark Inc. submitted a preliminary site plan of the Ketchum Market and drugstore, planned at the former Stock Building Supply property at the intersection of Warm Springs Road, Tenth Street and Lewis Street. Courtesy graphic
