Preservation Idaho - The Idaho Historic Preservation Council

Update on the Hemingway House

April 13, 2005

Dear Friend of the Hemingway House:

Thank you for taking the time earlier this year to send The Nature Conservancy your thoughts regarding the best future for the Hemingway House. The input we received has been invaluable in our decision making process. I wanted to update you on our plans and let you know how you may be able to help us further.

The Nature Conservancy has chosen to pursue the path we listed as Option 1 at the public forum on January 13: to convey the home to the Idaho Hemingway House Foundation, retaining a conservation easement for the nature preserve. The goal of the Foundation is to restore the House to its 1959 condition, manage it as a cultural resource, and to provide some public access to the House.

To achieve that outcome several hurdles must be passed. First, the City of Ketchum must amend its zoning ordinance to recognize that Ketchum’s historic properties are positive amenities for the community and thus deserve special consideration regarding access and use. The City Council is set to hear public comment on the proposed amendment on Tuesday April 19th, 2005 at 5:30pm at the Ketchum
City Hall .

Approval of the amendment by the Ketchum City Council, as recommended by the Ketchum Planning and Zoning Commission, will allow The Nature Conservancy and/or the Idaho Hemingway House Foundation to apply for a Conditional Use Permit. The permit application will be reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Department and considered at a future hearing of the Commission, and, then finally, by the City Council.

Each of these steps faces opposition from a small but vocal segment of the community. We need help from people such as yourself who support seeing some amount of controlled access to the Hemingway House. If you are inclined to help, here’s what you can do.

	Attend the April 19th public hearing and voice your opinion on the importance of historic properties to the quality of life in Ketchum. (The ordinance amendment is not specifically about the Hemingway House. If approved the amendment would open the door for any historic property in Ketchum to seek a permit for conditional use. Every such application would be considered separately and have to stand on its own merits.) The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 pm at Ketchum City Hall , 480 East Avenue North .

	Write or email your support to the Ketchum City Council. The e-mail address is planning@ketchumidaho.org and the mailing address is Mayor and City Council, Post Office Box 2315 , Ketchum Idaho 83340 . All input will be considered, but input from Ketchum residents will likely carry the most weight with the council members. So if you’re from Ketchum, you can be especially helpful.

If you have questions please feel free to contact Lou Lunte or Matt Miller at
208-343-8826.

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