Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Battle brews over project


Paul Leonard, of Hayden Lake, standing near the proposed dock area, says the project has created a

Hundreds of people are expected to attend Thursday’s public hearing on a gated housing development overlooking Hayden Lake that could include a 36-slip community dock.

The Timber Creek proposal by McDougal Brothers Investments mostly slipped by neighbors’ notice in November when a hearing examiner recommended approval of the 57-acre development. Only five comments in opposition were received.

Now the Hayden Lake Protective Association has organized, and the Kootenai County Commission has received nearly 300 letters, mostly in opposition.

The Oregon company, owned by foresters who are now real estate developers, wants to build 46 lots on a basalt bluff overlooking the north side of the lake. The company wants to cluster the homes on lots averaging three-fourths of an acre, leaving about 18 acres of open space as a buffer between the homes and the lakefront.

An 8-foot-wide trail for pedestrians and golf carts would give homeowners access to the dock and waterfront. On much of the property, a nearly 200-foot bluff separates the proposed home sites from the water.

Besides increased traffic on roads such as English Point and Rimrock roads, opponents fear the luxury development could set a bad precedent because a homeowner’s association, instead of individual property owners, would have control of the waterfront.

“It gives waterfront privileges to those who don’t live on the water,” said Paul Leonard, the organizer of Hayden Lake Protective Association, who lives next to the proposed development.

Leonard said the lake is already stressed by new homes and that allowing more docks and boats isn’t smart. Most of the waterfront owned by McDougal Brothers isn’t buildable and he thinks the county shouldn’t allow people not living directly on the water to have docks.

He said the issue has sparked a “tsunami of outrage.”

Local engineer Jim Coleman, who represents McDougal, was out of town and unavailable for comment Tuesday.

In his development summary submitted to the county, Coleman writes that the community dock would have 24 covered boat slips, but if demand is strong the number could increase to 36.

He adds that the common area would be owned and maintained by a homeowner’s association and will help protect the lake from runoff.

The Hayden Lake Recreational Water and Sewer District has agreed to provide sewers to the development if the company will work with a consortium of landowners in the Rimrock/Lancaster area to extend service to the region. The application states that the company is willing to participate.

Coleman estimates the new homes would add about 460 automobile trips per day to English Point Road. He writes that the developer is willing to work with the Lakes Highway District and other property owners to improve the Rimrock Road/Lakeview Drive intersection and the Rimrock Road/English Point intersection.