For the week of August 27 - September 2, 2003

Hailey council
considers ‘fast track’
review process

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"We don’t want the business corridor to be unduly impacted by slow, dragged-out construction."

— SUSAN McBRYANT, Hailey mayor

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By MATT FURBER
Express Staff Writer

Leading the agenda of the Hailey City Council Monday, Aug. 25, was a wish from Hailey Mayor Susan McBryant that Ketchum have a successful Wagon Days celebration and that people drive carefully when passing through Hailey.

"Kids are on the street," McByrant said, expanding her plea for the long term as schools are back in session. "Let’s have a good and safe school year."

In regular business, the council approved a 2002-2003 fiscal year budget amendment. The total budget increase is not to exceed $760,540. It was tentatively adopted in July and accounts for state grants received and contracts to be paid for library expenses and the Idaho State Highway 75 construction at the Fox Acres intersection.

The Winter Fox planned unit development agreement and the preliminary plat for the subdivision was approved. The council at a later meeting will settle details about a fence separating new homes from a bike path.

The council also approved changes to the Hailey municipal code governing elections. Largely an administrative housekeeping measure, the amendment makes the city one voting precinct and brings the city’s election routine in compliance with new provisions of Idaho state codes.

City attorney Ned Williamson presented a proposed ordinance that would allow a "fast track" review process for building applicants in the city’s central building district.

"We don’t want the business corridor to be unduly impacted by slow, dragged-out construction," McBryant said.

Up for consideration is a proposal that outlines a process that would put the highly impacted business zone in a new classification.

In certain instances it might be appropriate to move some applicants to the head of the line, Williamson said.

Today applicants can’t get on the agenda before December, said city planner Diane Shay. "There is a level of frustration out there.

Most big developments bring in people before formal review to go over a checklist with city staff, Shay said. The ordinance would formalize the process.

It helps that people come in before the review process begins," city engineer Tom Hellen said. "If they are missing parts they slow themselves down (later)."

Councilman Don Keirn said the process, which was not formalized in Boise where he once served, "really works." He also suggested that the fast track process could be expanded to include other business-heavy zones of the city.

"You could cut off a month, maybe more," he said.

Under the ordinance, businesses could be bumped to the head of the line to reduce the impact of construction on Main Street vitality or if there were deemed to be big job providers.

City staff will develop the ordinance further. Mayor McBryant asked that it be presented as a heads up for council to think about for consideration in the near future.

 

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