RATHDRUM, Idaho – Residents of Rathdrum are expressing concerns about the sustainability of Hayden Homes’ proposal to build 500 new homes in the area.
Kris Larcher, a resident for seven years, highlighted the issues of overpopulation and infrastructure.
“The issue I think that a lot of residents are having is that growth is not sustainable based on our current infrastructure,” Larcher said.
He elaborated on the specific challenges the community might face.
“Some of the overcrowding in the schools, emergency services. The aquifer has been a, you know, discussion for literally decades. You know, the lot sizes are shrinking. It’s everything that, you know, these community citizens are struggling to understand,” Larcher added.
While Larcher acknowledges that growth is inevitable, he and others are seeking better communication from the city regarding the development plans.
“You know, they’re taking an absolute beating on social media, unfortunately, but they’re also not responding to any of those questions. And you’re giving the reasons why they are approving these, you know, subdivisions,” he said.
City Administrator Leon Duce clarified that Hayden Homes has not yet been approved to build the subdivision but has been granted the rezoning rights.
“So they’ve been approved for the right to build housing. Their next step will be a subdivisions application,” Duce stated.
Hayden Homes is addressing increased traffic concerns by promising to construct surrounding roads of Meyer and Boekel.
“The lots must be a certain size. There needs to be certain widths of roadway. There needs to be all of the things that they identified in the traffic study,” Duce explained.
Residents are awaiting further developments and hoping for more transparency in the process. We contacted Hayden Homes for comment and did not receive a response.
