Hayden gets ready to grow

Hayden is almost ready to consider new requests to expand the city limits, following a delay of nearly 12 months so it could complete sewer and transportation studies.

The Hayden City Council on Jan. 9 will review the new sewer master plan, which is basically a map showing where sewer pipes and lift stations are needed for the town to grow beyond its border.

The hiatus, which put seven annexations totaling 1,300 acres on hold, was a rare opportunity for Hayden to look at the entire city and its likely growth areas in an effort to manage planning, City Planner Lisa Key said.

“A sewer system is like the game ‘Mouse Trap,’ ” Key said. “It all has to flow together in order for it to work. Just because it serves a particular property doesn’t mean it will serve as a component in a larger system to serve a larger area.”

The transportation plan is expected early in 2007, as is a master plan for parks, which will give developers direction for how to incorporate public open space into these subdivisions.

Key said the delay was critical, especially in the rapidly growing town where the population could surge to 22,150 – a 67 percent increase – just with the seven current proposals, which could add 3,500 homes. The proposed projects range from a 12.4-acre housing development off Wyoming Avenue to a 240-acre project that would push the city’s boundary west to Huetter Road.

Key thinks all seven proposals are still active, except for one property that may have changed ownership.

During the delay, only one other property owner inquired about annexation, Key said. The city didn’t expect a lot of queries because most developers knew about the delay.

Most property owners and developers were comfortable with the temporary halt, Key said. That’s because they won’t have to pay for their own extensive sewer and road studies and will know exactly what infrastructure is needed to support the properties.

Ron Rosenberger of Rosenberger Construction wasn’t available for comment Wednesday.

He said previously the temporary halt was unwanted but that it was better to plan and prepare for the town’s rapid growth.

Rosenberger wants the city to annex 65 acres off Buckels Road on Hayden’s east side, which would become an extension of the Rocking R subdivision. The Rocking R North project would put 125 homes on the former Holte family property, currently hayfields.

The massive Hayden Canyon proposal north of Lancaster Road, which alone would expand the city’s population by more than a third, is included in the list of annexation requests, even though the Hayden Planning and Zoning Commission already had a public hearing and unanimously recommended denial of changing the city’s comprehensive plan, the foundation of all land-use decisions.

Key said the developers are now waiting for Hayden to complete an update to its comprehensive plan, with the hope that the city will change the designation of the property so the developers will no longer have to ask the city for a comprehensive plan amendment.

The following are the other annexation requests:

“ Blue Grass Development: 118 acres along Huetter Road, between Hayden and Prairie avenues.

The company intends to request a planned unit development of mostly residential with a small component of commercial building.

The developers also are encouraging four neighboring properties, totaling 157 acres, to seek annexation.

“ Copper Basin: 240 acres along Huetter Road, between Hayden Avenue and the southern boundary of the Coeur d’Alene Airport. The company wants to build a residential planned unit development.

This request would also require the city to change its comprehensive plan.

“ K&S Development: 153.5 acres north of Lancaster Road. The company plans a development that includes a mix of residential and commercial.

“ Hayden Village: 91.7 acres north of Lancaster Road that fronts the west side of U.S. Highway 95.

The company intends to ask for a planned unit development that would include a mix of residential and commercial uses. Developer Alan Golub is working with the Idaho Transportation Department, Hayden and the Lakes Highway District to use a portion of the property to put an under- or overpass where Lancaster Road intersects with Highway 95.

“ Rocking R North: 65 acres north of Buckles Road. Rosenberger Construction wants to build a subdivision with 155 homes.

“ Waterford Park: 12.4 acres north of Wyoming Avenue. Developer wants a residential planned unit development.