Hayden Canyon back to commissioners

An 1,800-home housing development turned away two years ago by the city of Hayden is back for consideration.

Hayden Canyon developers are seeking to have their 618-acre site north of the city annexed into Hayden. Hayden Planning and Zoning commissioners will hold a hearing early next month to consider the request.

The bulk of the proposal remains the same, but Hayden has recently updated its comprehensive plan, sewer master plan and transportation plan, making the city better prepared to expand its boundaries and population, said Glen Lanker, whose Spokane-based architecture firm Artios is an owner of developer Hayden Canyon Land LLC.

In addition the developer has worked with local school districts, Hayden and Northern Lakes Fire District on agreements to donate land for public facilities.

“There’s a definite need to fund infrastructure for existing needs and future growth. We’re committed to be part of that solution,” Lanker said.

Although the property in question is part of the county designated for future Hayden growth, many neighbors oppose the project, saying it will cause traffic jams and overburden local schools and police services.

“Everybody is short of money. I don’t see how anything of this size is going to be a benefit to anybody,” said Doug Wall, who lives nearby.

Hayden Canyon is proposing an average housing density of three homes per acre, with much of the area left undeveloped for open space. That land will be open to anyone, Lanker said.

“We’re preserving this beautiful canyon and wetland areas and building hiking and equestrian trails,” he said.

Wall and other opponents say that much of the property being dedicated to open space is undevelopable and that they fear densities will be too high.

“We’re living in the country and now they want to force us to live in the city and face traffic jams,” said Wayne Schulz, who lives near the proposed development.

Traffic impacts would likely be felt most on Lancaster Road, Government Way and Strahorn Road, and would spill onto U.S. Highway 95.

A traffic signal at Highway 95 and Lancaster would be required for Hayden Canyon development to occur. The developer would pay part of that cost, but the signal itself is only part of the traffic issue.

At this time there is no federal or state funding available to widen Highway 95 from two lanes to four lanes in the vicinity of the project

“My main concern right now is the construction,” said neighbor Philip Clements.

Construction would take as long as 15 years and Clements said he fears the disruption, noise and dust it would cause.

Though the developer would donate land for a school, funding to build and operate that school would be the responsibility of the school district it belonged to – most likely Coeur d’Alene School District. The developer has also proposed contributing money to purchase a Lakeland School District school site.

In addition Lanker said Hayden Canyon will donate land for a park and possible police and fire station.

Coeur d’Alene Airport Director Greg Delavan has written several letters over the years to Hayden planning officials noting his concerns about Hayden Canyon’s location underneath the airport’s approach and departure corridor.

Though development would not encroach into flight space, jet aircraft noise could negatively impact residents, Delavan noted, adding that noise complaints could in turn hamper airport expansion.

Not all nearby residents oppose Hayden Canyon’s annexation.

Lee Arnold, who lives about one mile away, said he doesn’t worry about traffic or the cost of providing services to hundreds of new homes. Instead he said he values the project as a new location for affordable housing.

“Driving from Hayden Canyon to Coeur d’Alene is cheaper for service workers than driving from Spokane,” Arnold said.

Lanker said that 10 percent of Hayden Canyon homes will be workforce housing that is affordable to the average worker.

“For us that’s a significant percentage,” he said.