Hagadone reapplies for dock, minus helipad

Coeur d’Alene businessman Duane Hagadone has scrapped plans for a floating helipad outside his Casco Bay home on Lake Coeur d’Alene. But he is asking the state to reconsider his plans for a commercial dock – one slightly shorter than the 200-foot dock the state rejected in January.

The Idaho Department of Lands rejected the hotel and newspaper owner’s proposal because the dock and helipad would have “an unnecessary adverse impact on navigation” along the shoreline.

Hagadone’s new proposal, for a 177-foot dock, would still allow him to moor two 100-foot-long boats used to transport visitors to the property for summer charity events. The boats would provide restroom facilities for groups of up to 600 people.

The application states that the new dock would be the same length and in the same spot as an existing dock and therefore would not have “any additional impact on the navigability of the lake.”

“Casco Bay is concave at this location and the established line of navigation is well beyond the end of this dock as evidenced by the daily boat traffic, including large cruise boats that pass well beyond the dock,” the application states.

The new application doesn’t mention the helipad, which would have extended 160 feet into the water. Originally, Hagadone wanted to expand his swim dock for use as the helipad. But the new request states that the existing swim dock would remain unchanged.

In the January denial letter, agency Director George Bacon wrote that the helipad would not provide “major benefits to the general public.” He said it’s more reasonable to construct the helipad on Hagadone’s property.

Hagadone spokesman John Barlow did not return calls seeking comment.

Some residents said they’re glad Hagadone dropped the helipad idea.

“We hope the people of Coeur d’Alene can rest assured that this will set a precedent that we don’t use our lake for a helipad,” resident Pat Behm, of Coeur d’Alene, said.

The January denial also noted that the applications were not signed by Hagadone or his two adjacent neighbors and that the packet contained an improperly drawn map of the shoreline. Those oversights were corrected in the new application, with neighbors John Powell and Fred Murphy signing consent forms.

The new application also notes that the Hagadone family has “taken in and donated over $500,000” during the past three years through charity events at its private garden. Events on the property have included the Western Governors’ Association conference and fundraisers for the Coeur d’Alene Library and Kootenai Humane Society.

The application also says that the neighboring Murphy Marine’s commercial operation extends 290 feet into the lake, so a 177-foot dock wouldn’t impede the navigability of the lake.

Hagadone is renovating his Casco Bay property, including building a new home where he has a historic log home surrounded by flower gardens.

Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson has an agreement with Hagadone to buy the log home and barge it in two pieces to his Cougar Bay property in April.