Residential building height revisions examined
Council: no more 59-footers
By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer
In response to construction of a Knob Hill home with a 59-foot-high
facade, the Ketchum City Council decided Monday to examine how the city determines
building heights in residential zones that have steep grades.
The Knob Hill home is owned by GAP president Mickey Drexler. Calling the
home "GAP’s middle finger towering above Ketchum," Councilman Maurice
Charlat requested that the council look into revised regulations.
Current zoning requires that building height be measured from
"existing grade"—that is from the level of the ground preceding
construction.
A 35-foot height limit is enforced in residential zones, but when a hill
is excavated, the finished height of a building can be considerably taller and still be
within the city’s ordinances.
Ketchum planning administrator Lisa Horowitz pointed out that a solution
could be as simple as changing the wording in the city’s zoning code from
"existing" to "finished grade."
Finished grade is the level of the ground after it’s been excavated.
Councilmembers agreed to further examine the issue and said it will be
noticed for public hearings at the planning and zoning commission and city council levels
this summer.
In other city council news, the panel unanimously denied an application
from Bavarian Village Condominium owners to transfer ownership of a city street to them.
Wick Strasse, a street that for the past two decades has acted as a
parking lot for Bavarian Village, is a street to nowhere, pointed out Bavarian Village
acting spokesman Dennis Hanggi.
But in order to release ownership of the street, the council must
determine that it is "expedient for the public good," Ketchum city administrator
Jim Jaquet said.
"I think that you’ve made a compelling argument that the street
is something we don’t want to maintain," Councilman David Hutchinson said.
"But how is it good, rather than neutral?" he asked rhetorically.
Hanggi alluded to plans to redevelop the entire site, but would not
disclose any details. He was not available for comment yesterday.
"I have a problem with giving away city property for what could
enhance private property rights," Councilman Randy Hall said.
