Wednesday, April 14, 2004

‘The Waters’ to fill Ketchum parcel

City approves 25-unit downtown structure

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"The fourth time’s a charm. I think it looks really nice."

— RON PARSONS, Ketchum Planning and Zoning commissioner

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

Continuation of a steady trend of upscale residential developments being built in central Ketchum was solidified this week.

An architect’s rendering shows a view of The Waters from the southwest corner of 2nd Avenue and 2nd Street looking to the northeast. Graphic by SCA Design

Ketchum Planning and Zoning commissioners on Monday, April 12, unanimously approved the design of a 25-unit, 58,000-square-foot building proposed for a vacant parcel at 180 W. Sun Valley Road.

The project—which is called The Waters—is designed to cover half of a city block along Second Avenue, between Sun Valley Road and Second Street. The Community Core-zoned property is immediately south of the Ski Tek ski shop.

The building site is approximately three-quarters of an acre.

The approval Monday night came during the city’s first formal design review of the plan. The Washington-based developer, SLC Development, had issued three separate sets of plans to the P&Z during three previous "pre-application" design review hearings.

"The fourth time’s a charm," said Commissioner Ron Parsons. "I think it looks really nice."

The approved plan calls for construction of 21 market-rate, fractional-ownership condominiums and four community housing units. The plans include a reception area for owners and guests, a swimming pool and a garden courtyard on the building’s west side.

By pursuing a zoning code allowance to increase the building size, the developer was required to build at least 4,620 square feet of deed-restricted community housing. The four units proposed would include approximately 5,200 square feet of floor area.

The three-story structure is planned to be 40 feet tall at the highest points.

Materials planned for use in construction include river rock, copper, stucco and wood.

A small, park-like "pedestrian area" that would include trees and boulders is proposed to be built on the southwest corner of the site.

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