HAYDEN, Idaho – With a 3-to-2 City Council vote, Hayden Sky got their preliminary planned unit development proposal approved, after three-and-a-half hours of discussion.
The proposal involves adding around 300 single-family unit lots, 28 fourplex townhomes, two public parks, and a private open space to about 127 acres of empty land near the intersection of Hayden Avenue and Huetter Road. The area, currently zoned for only single-family homes, is owned by John and Jacqueline Peterson and the Mills Family Tree Farms.
The Tuesday meeting was publicized heavily on social media and through in-person signage in the area, causing there to be no room for seats inside. While several people were visibly upset with the proposal, only two people testified in person, both bringing up issues with the city’s sewage capacity, after there was a strong smell of waste throughout the city last summer.
“If it were to happen again I would hope that you’d put your best efforts towards (fixing it),” one commenter said, “because smelling poop is not a good idea on a daily basis.”
Three hours in, the Council finally had the option to deliberate, bringing up the sewage issue along with issues with the local infrastructure. Nearly every road in the area is heavily traveled at this point, but still is just one lane each way with no four-way stop sign.
After a failed vote to reject the project, Councilmember Ed DePriest noted that the developers can chose to just made the lots into single-family units right now with the city’s approval.
The agreement they made with the city for this proposal requires two public parks to be handed over to the city, and funds to improve the local intersections. Without dedicating 15 acres towards those parks, DePriest argued they could build as many units as they would in their proposal, but leave the city with nothing.
“We already have issues where we’re looking for help,” Councilmember DePriest said. “Issues that we can’t afford! And we don’t want to go to the people for bonds and taxes, we need to squeeze every dime and every penny we can get out of every resource we can.
While DePriest’s comments helped the initial proposal pass 3-to-2, the project has a long way to go until it’s approved, as the city gave developers more conditions to meet by the time they come back for their final proposal.
