Developer sues Hayden property owners
A Delaware partnership wanting to buy 618 acres for a controversial development that could increase Hayden’s population by a third is suing the property’s owners for breach of contract.
ALF Hayden Canyon is trying to buy the Hayden Canyon property off Lancaster Road and continue plans for the mixed-used development with 1,800 homes. The partnership filed the lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court, alleging that one of the owners wants to “undermine” and “interfere” with the $15 million sale, scheduled to close Thursday.
The partnership, whose contact is listed as the president of American Land Fund, a private Philadelphia-based real estate acquisition fund, alleges that Stonehill Investments of Hayden informed the buyer and other owners on July 18 that it had “no intention of pursuing or executing or closing the Agreement for Sale and Purchase.”
ALF Hayden Canyon is seeking $10 million in damages.
Stonehill Investment, whose managing members are listed as Hayden residents Ron Hazard and Michael Harris, owns the property off Lancaster Road in partnership with Hayden TND and James and Lisa Kuntz of Veredale, Wash.
Hayden TND, the Kuntzes and ALF Hayden Canyon plan to move forward with the sale, according to court documents.
The owners, led by Spokane architect Glen Lanker, originally tried to get Hayden Canyon approved. In November 2005, the Hayden Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended denial of changing the city’s comprehensive plan or including the property in the city limits for fear the development would negatively impact the city.
The sale and purchase agreement, included in the lawsuit, states that after the sale to ALF Hayden Canyon, Lanker likely would become the local entitlement partner for the development project.
Lanker didn’t return phone calls seeking comment Friday, and it’s unclear whether he is involved with ALF Hayden Canyon. The phone number for the Stonehill Group and Hazard has been disconnected.
ALF Hayden Canyon’s Boise attorney, Erik Stidham, said he has a policy not to comment to the news media. Spokane attorneys for Hayden TND and the Kuntzes did not return calls for comment.
Many residents applauded the denial of the comprehensive plan change and annexation, saying Hayden Canyon would destroy their semi-rural lifestyle, increase traffic congestion on already clogged roads and burden local school districts by potentially adding 2,100 students.