BY ISAIAH FRIZZELL
What happens in Ketchum stays in Ketchum. One of the premier signs of a vibrant, healthy city is its locals. In the north Valley, Ketchum generates the most buzz as a tourist destination with around 60% of residences being relegated to second-home status for their seasonal owners. Ketchum is actively addressing this and while there are many projects on the desks at city council, the Cohesive Ketchum Comprehensive Plan aims to sort out a number of issues for making it local and keeping it local.
Community Cohesion
The most beautiful thing about Blaine County is the community. Locals and visitors alike love the small-town yet vibrant city vibe that Blaine County reverberates. The traffic may have become more voluminous but that is part of growth. A shared sense of purpose, place and history that defines the Valley is, however, undergoing a rapid change. Some see it as a decline, others a boon, yet plans at the heart of each of the cities hint toward beautification and a locals-first escalation of innovation and enhanced liveability. In addition to the growing population of transplants, there are generational families that inhabit the region with claims going back to the early mining days. In the optimal world, there would be a symbiosis of the two—respect for history as well as adaptation to development.
Ketchum Aims True
The Ketchum 2014 Comprehensive Plan is a continuing effort from their 2001 Comprehensive Plan to increase longevity and liveability in the city. With a recently released update for codes and objectives, the minds at the City of Ketchum have made it clear that they are ready and willing to work with the community and listen to the voices of the people. They hold regular public meetings, consistently publish memorandums and minutes and provide a well-maintained portal to all things Ketchum through their online newsletter and the KetchumIdaho.org website. If you filled out the January survey, your voice and preferences will be heard for upcoming changes.
The 2014 Comprehensive Plan declares, “Unlike many previous planning efforts that focus on one or more topical areas (e.g., downtown improvements and economic development), the updated Comprehensive Plan provides the overall framework to help coordinate these earlier plans, and see that studies, programs and investments are aligned to support a common direction.” (ketchumidaho.org) It’s time to walk the talk, and what the plan is ultimately based on are sustainability goals. While the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not mentioned, there is an implied link. You can read the 152-page document at a hyperlink (http://tinyurl.com/3rzvn2me).
The community mission and core value statement is respectful and optimistic:
“We aspire to be an authentic mountain community with world-class character yet small-town feel. We see our community as one with a high quality of life for a local year-round population and a visiting population. We will be successful by creating, marketing and delivering distinctive choices for jobs, learning, health, outdoor adventure and arts and culture. We value a strong sense of community. Furthermore, we wish to be a place with a strong economy, a vibrant downtown, diverse options for housing, and a varied demographic of people who live, work, and visit here. We will be responsible stewards of our environment, work for a dynamic economy, and maintain our special way of life for generations to come.” (ketchumidaho.org)
With 10 core community values, Ketchum is actively working on sustainable, authentic growth by bolstering intrigue and staying power to provide more options for year-round locals as well as visitors.
1. A Strong and Diverse Economy
2. Vibrant Downtown
3. Community Character
4. A Variety of Housing Options
5. Environmental Quality and Scenic Beauty
6. Exceptional Recreational Opportunities
7. Well-Connected Community
8. Enlivened by the Arts and Culture
9. Working as a Region
10. A “Greener” Community
(ketchumidaho.org)
These core values are well defined in the document and worth a read. Concern about housing is one of the most reported-on and talked-about issues in all of Blaine County and Ketchum is determined to get it right. The main goal of the housing initiative is to keep year-round locals and workforce in affordable spaces. The Housing Action Plan | 2022-2024 is a direct plan to incentivize year-round workforce and local housing. “This community-designed-and-driven plan takes a holistic approach to address Ketchum and Blaine County’s housing crisis. In May 2023, voters passed a ballot measure to use a proportion of Local Option Tax funds towards affordable housing solutions, which will bring in an anticipated $1.4 million in the 2024 fiscal year.”
Using feedback from surveys, open houses, census data and local analyses, Ketchum has thrown down the gauntlet for increasing liveability. They are highly aware and active in addressing the three key concerns.
1. There is a massive shortage of affordable homes in Ketchum.
2. Ketchum is losing its workforce and some year-round residents because most local people cannot afford to live here.
3. Our community agrees that there is a housing crisis and wants action.
A strong infographic can be found at:
https://www.projectketchum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/2023-24-Housing-Action-Plan_FINAL.pdf
Code Red
The recently published update addresses building and development with a remarkably short execution timeline. “The plan and code updates are being led by Planning and Building Department staff with support from Clarion Associates, a consulting firm with extensive experience in comprehensive planning and municipal development code projects. The full project will be executed in three phases that are anticipated to take approximately two and a half years to complete.” (KetchumIdaho.org)
Project Objectives
Achieve alignment between the updated Comprehensive Plan, other adopted plans, and the code to support the community’s vision, goals, and policies.
Integrate sustainable policies and practices to support sustainable growth and environmental stewardship.
Develop regulations that improve the citizen experience by making the code user-friendly, written in clear, simple terms that are streamlined and fair, and include high-quality visual references (images, graphics, tables, etc.).
Develop design review guidelines and processes that foster creativity and quality design.
“User-friendly,” “written in clear simple terms,” these phrases read like the city is already engaging with their community to accomplish the goals set forth. And yes, Project Main Street is one of the missions Ketchum seeks to address.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PARTICIPATE IN THE CITY’S
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND CODE
UPDATE PROJECT, COHESIVE KETCHUM
The city will host several presentations about the Comprehensive Plan and Code Update process throughout March. These events will cover topics such as community survey results, opportunities to get involved, and why the project is important. Please join the discussion at one of the sessions below.
Wednesday, March 13 | 5:30 PM at Hemingway STEAM School Library (presented in English with Spanish translation)
Thursday, March 14 | 5:30 PM at the Hotel Ketchum Meeting Room by Barrio 75
Friday, March 15 | 1:30 PM at Zenergy
Tuesday, March 19 | 11:30 AM at Ketchum City Hall (also presented online)
Tuesday, March 19 | 4:00 PM at Wood River Community YMCA
Wednesday, March 20 | 10:30 AM at The Community Library
As with most growth, there can be growing pains. Some historic landmarks and venues, like Whiskey’s, have been aesthetically altered, for better or worse, depending on who you talk to. Perhaps seeking to attract a new crowd, the designs in many renovated structures have generated heavy talk in the Valley. Many locals have voiced their opinions on standard social media; sentiments like “what has happened to our valley” or “we’ve lost our history” and the dreaded “Californication” are abundant. (Facebook). While these are subjective statements that express a sense of loss, the solution is clear—the community must be more engaged, vocal and have access to an urgent forum to communicate through. Scattered Facebook groups and the occasional forum update might not cut it. The community needs a timely, bidirectional outlet for communication between the city and amongst themselves.
What is your city doing about the community’s problems? Do they provide an outlet for open-ended feedback and reconciliation of ideas? At what point is it incumbent upon the community member to stand up and take action? You can make your voice heard by attending meetings, completing surveys, volunteering and writing emails or even good old-fashioned paper letters.
Learn more about the project at projectketchum.org/cohesive-ketchum.
Visit KethchumIdaho.org to sign up for the newsletter and access the info.