For the week of Sept 25 - Oct 1, 2002

Sun Valley Inn 
addition approved

Some convention activities 
bumped to ice rink

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

Sun Valley Planning and Zoning commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved an application by Sun Valley Co. to remodel and reconfigure the motor-court entrance to the Sun Valley Inn.

In a 5-0 vote with Commissioner Nils Ribi absent, the panel gave formal Design Review approval for the company to enclose portions of a covered walkway on the southeast side of the inn and to renovate most features of the building’s old-fashioned covered entryway.

Woody Bryant, architect for Ketchum-based architectural firm Wright, Bryant and Johnson, presented the application on behalf of Sun Valley Co. management.

Bryant told the panel that one of the primary goals of the project is to upgrade the appearance of the motor court and make it resemble a similar—albeit larger—type of structure at the entrance to the Sun Valley Lodge.

"They’re going to dress the whole thing up," Bryant said.

The architect noted that the project is also aimed at making the motor-court entrance the "main entrance to the hotel," essentially trying to phase out the popular pedestrian entrance on the inn’s southwest side.

The approved addition will include 1,134 square feet of floor area, and is intended to serve "as a cold entry and storage" for the inn, a city staff report on the project noted.

Bryant said the remodeling of the motor court would include adding field-stone facades and granite bases and caps to the existing columns at the site, similar to those at the Sun Valley Lodge.

In addition, the project includes constructing a new stucco wall, decorating the main entry door with "cut-granite molding," and installing a large chandelier inside the roof of the carport, Bryant said.

Sun Valley Fire Chief Jeff Carnes told commissioners that he had some concerns about providing adequate fire protection to the inn and its guests, but did not in theory oppose the project.

"My biggest concern is the hydrants and the water supply," he said. "If nothing else, I’d like to get some of the hydrants replaced and raised (further off the ground)."

Carnes said much of the area surrounding the inn and the adjacent village is served by an aging infrastructure, parts of which he would like to see upgraded in future years.

In a short list of generally routine conditions of approval, Bryant and Sun Valley Co. were asked to comply with a specific set of conditions set forth by Carnes to promote fire safety.

Commissioners Tuesday did not address a concurrent project proposed by Sun Valley Co. to remodel the interior of the ground floor of the Sun Valley Inn.

Building Inspector Eric Adams confirmed Tuesday that the interior project does not require Design Review approval from the P&Z, but instead requires a building permit issued through his office.

Sun Valley Co. has asked Adams for approval to remodel the ground-floor Continental Cafeteria into a bar and lounge area, remodel and reconfigure the front desk and lobby area, and renovate the Limelight Room convention space.

Adams after Tuesday’s P&Z hearing said he expects to issue the building permit for the interior remodel in the near future. In anticipation of granting approval, he said he has given Sun Valley Co. advance permission to do some demolition of the area proposed for renovation.

Yet to be seen is how the temporary loss of meeting space at the inn will affect local and visiting groups wishing to convene in Sun Valley.

Jack Sibbach, Sun Valley marketing and public relations director, said Tuesday the remodel will start after October’s Jazz Jamboree, and is estimated to continue for four months.

However, he noted that the lobby remodeling project will be put on a fast-track schedule aimed at completion by Christmas.

"It’s needed. It’s been many, many years since something has been done to the inn," Sibbach said.

The Limelight Room, which can seat 600 people or more, is the company’s chief convention facility. During the project the company will move large convention groups into its indoor ice rink.

Figure skating and ice hockey groups which use the indoor ice rink will be heavily impacted this winter, Sibbach said.

"We are telling the groups that the indoor ice rink will be unavailable from Oct. 11 through Nov. 26, which includes the Jazz Festival and three other conventions, and will also probably be down from mid-February through March 10," Sibbach said.

Youth hockey, Sun Valley Suns hockey and senior hockey groups have been informed of the company’s plans and are adjusting their winter scheduling, he said.

Sun Valley has the only indoor ice rink in the Wood River Valley.

In addition, local groups use the Limelight Room to stage fund-raising events during the resort’s shoulder seasons.

"It’s a big issue," said Sibbach. "We’re calling the various groups that use our facilities, whether they are local or out-of-town, and asking them how we can make it work. We don’t want anyone to go away."

River Run Lodge, which holds 300 to 350 people, about half that of the Limelight Room, is a likely site for some of the benefit events, he said.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.