Wednesday — January 28, 2004

Sun Villas given
new life—again

P&Z allows redesign of unpopular project

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

Sun Valley Planning and Zoning commissioners this week called for a redesign of the proposed 97-unit Sun Villas project, minutes after they stood poised to deny approval of the controversial application.

Barry Luboviski, an attorney representing the residents of the Sunburst and Village condominium complexes, urges Sun Valley P&Z commissioners to deny approval of the proposed Sun Villas project. Looking on are commissioners Phil Usher, left, Nils Ribi and Virginia Egger, center, and Ken Herich, right. Express photo by Willy Cook

At the close of an epic five-hour hearing Tuesday, Jan. 27, P&Z commissioners voted unanimously to review and revise the project plans at a public workshop with Sun Villas architects and representatives.

The decision came after Commissioner Nils Ribi issued two separate motions to recommend to the Sun Valley City Council that it deny approval of an application to subdivide the project site into four parcels.

Ribi said he believes the project is not in accordance with the city’s codes and would be "out of proportion" with surrounding properties because of its bulk and mass.

However, despite the fact that the majority of Ribi’s fellow commissioners indicated they disapproved of various elements of the project, both motions failed.

At issue is a revised plan by New York City-based Blackacre Capital Management to construct four multi-story residential buildings on the so-called "Sunshine Parcel" in central Elkhorn.

The project site—a vacant 4.26-acre commercial-zoned parcel—is located immediately north of the former Elkhorn Resort.

The Sun Villas project has been under review by the city for approximately 1.5 years.

Blackacre in 2002 first proposed a 111-unit Sun Villas development, which was eventually reduced to 105 units before it was rejected by the P&Z in April 2003.

After Sun Villas representatives appealed the P&Z decision to the Sun Valley City Council, that panel voted unanimously in June 2003 to remand the development proposal back to the P&Z—despite numerous objections from Elkhorn residents.

Similar to the original application for Sun Villas, the revised application proposes four multi-story buildings with underground parking, each of which would be located on a subdivided lot approximately one acre in size.

In the latest revision of the plans, the project was downsized to include 97 units. Half of the units would be sold at market rates, while half would be offered as fractional-ownership units. No residences would be offered as community housing units.

Project planners have proposed that the two buildings on the south end of the site reach heights of approximately 53 feet and 55 feet respectively.

Two buildings on the north end of the parcel would respectively reach heights of approximately 64 feet and 60 feet.

Numerous neighbors of the project site spoke out against the revised Sun Villas plan Tuesday.

Barry Luboviski, an attorney representing the residents of the neighboring Sunburst and Village condominium complexes, urged commissioners to reject the project. He said the development would block neighbors’ views and sunlight.

"This project shouldn’t have another go-around," he said. "It should be turned down."

Sun Valley resident Milt Adam said the project was too massive for the proposed site.

"This is the equivalent of two Sun Valley Lodges put into this area," he said. "It’s an insult to the homeowners and the people who live in and around there."

Despite the testimony, commissioners—three of whom were appointed earlier this month—agreed that it would be preferable to allow project representatives to alter the designs to lessen the development’s negative impacts.

Commissioner Ken Herich said he supports the project.

Project attorney Evan Robertson had suggested to city officials and the P&Z that his group would challenge an unfavorable decision.

The P&Z did not establish a date for the forthcoming workshop.

 

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