“KBAC supports both affordable housing and affordable parking and recognizes that residential developments must include parking for all residents of the development without removing existing public parking,” said Bronwyn Nickel, KBAC board member and owner of the Sawtooth Club .

Frustration over the loss of parking began with the removal of 25 parking spaces on Main Street and was exacerbated by the planned removal of 66 parking spaces at First and Washington, where the community housing project was to be built. These issues were the trigger for the founding of KBAC.

The group’s current disagreement stems from the near-unanimous view of Ketchum Urban Renewal Agency board members and Ketchum City Council members during a joint meeting on Nov. 18 that the project will move forward without a public parking structure due to the $21 million-plus price tag could.

During the meeting, council members and KURA officers discussed six options for a public parking garage. However, most expressed support for moving forward with the originally proposed project without a public parking garage, but wanted the developer to explore options to add a few more parking spaces so that each of the proposed 64 units would have one space.

During a public meeting hosted by KBAC on December 3 at Argyros, the organization’s board discussed option six – the most cost-effective option for a public parking garage – and discussed how it could be financed. The board had previously voted unanimously for this option.

During the KBAC meeting, city officials and nonprofit leaders also signaled their willingness to consider the idea of ​​a parking structure if funding can be resolved.

Ahead of KURA’s regular monthly meeting on December 16, KBAC is making an organized effort to rally its members to support the board for a parking structure.

Board member and Nourish Me owner Julie Johnson said she and the rest of the board took to the streets and talked to business owners about option six. She said most business owners they’ve spoken to so far have been “supportive” of the idea.

To fund a parking structure, city officials have discussed creating a local improvement district.

During the Dec. 3 KBAC meeting, Grumpy’s restaurant owner and KBAC board member Pete Prekeges brought up the concept of a voluntary local improvement district and said that option could come to the table if the city doesn’t reconsider to move forward with a parking structure will be submitted to the city.

KBAC board members also noted that any LID would be assessed against the underlying property owners, not the business owners. Prekeges said he would be happy to pay the LID instead of the underlying property owner.

Nickel noted that “a lot of details and conversations need to be had” before a voluntary LID can be created.

Since its founding less than a year ago, KBAC has become a major force in Ketchum politics. Prekeges said KBAC is “not ad hoc” and plans to stick to and provide a voice on other issues impacting the business community. It will support some candidates for council and mayor next fall, he said.

KBAC has organized a petition asking that KURA pause all development at First and Washington until the city completes revisions to its comprehensive plan and municipal code. According to the KBAC website, the petition has so far generated 2,045 signatures.

In an interview, Prekeges noted that the city’s recently released draft compensation plan mentions parking only a few times. He pointed to a 2024 city survey that found 20% of respondents cited parking as one of their top two problems.

During the Dec. 3 KBAC meeting, several members of the public expressed concerns about the cost of a LID and called for the community housing project to be stopped entirely. In an interview, several KBAC board members said they would also prefer First and Washington to retain a parking lot, but agreed that the pragmatic option would be to push for option six since it appears that the city advances the housing project.

“We won’t have our No. 1 option,” said Jed Gray, a KBAC board member and broker with Sun Valley Associates. “It’s not my dream option, but it can meet future needs.”

Gray emphasized that KBAC was seeking a compromise.

“We’re not trying to be hostile here – we’re trying to work together,” he said.