Coeur d'Alene Press Newspaper | CDAPress.com

Local and National News - Kootenai County, Idaho

Hayden Canyon developers try again

Posted: Wednesday, Apr 09, 2008 - 10:32:13 pm PDT
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By SUZANNE JACOBSON
Staff writer 

Group agrees to help finance traffic light at Lancaster, Highway 95

HAYDEN -- Hayden Canyon developers submitted Friday a binder full of information designed to help them on their quest for annexation.

Developer Glen Lanker said specifics of a proposed traffic light and acreage donated to the city for a school and emergency services building were more clearly outlined.

The information was gathered to answer questions raised during joint planning meetings.

"We're optimistic. We spent quite a bit of time visiting with neighbors and people from the community," Lanker said.

Developers agreed to help finance a traffic light at the already stressed Lancaster Road and Highway 95. Idaho Transportation Department was previously unreceptive to a traffic light because other improvements were planned. But, since budget shortfalls have become more evident, ITD agreed to consider a traffic light, according to a letter from ITD to developers.

Hayden resident Phil Clements questioned whether a traffic light would help. The light would impede traffic on Highway 95, and could ultimately hamper long-term solutions, he said.

Clements said trucks traversing Lancaster Road add unnecessary stresses. "The trucks are a pain in the tush and they're hard on the roads," he said.

The entire 616-acre development would lie entirely within the Coeur d'Alene School District, although part of it currently lies in Lakeland's district. To compensate Lakeland School District for its loss, it's proposed Coeur d'Alene School District give Lakeland enough money to buy 10 acres as replacement.

The 22 acres donated to the city of Hayden would be big enough to hold a kindergarten through eighth grade school designed for 700 students, and a community park. The park is slated for four sports fields, a track encircling a football field, four tennis courts, two basketball courts, two volleyball courts, a play structure, and a picnic table and restrooms.

Lanker said the school district has been searching for land in that area. Land is expensive, he said, and even though the district would need to pay for a school, donated land helps.

Clements said a new school wouldn't be necessary there if Hayden Canyon wasn't built.

"It would actually force Coeur d'Alene to build a new high school," Clements said. "They want to build another Hayden north of Hayden."

Lanker refuted his development could be construed a town within a town.

"A well-designed neighborhood is whether a 12-year-old can bike or walk to get an ice cream," he said.

They formally applied for annexation in September. A public hearing would be scheduled for June, at the earliest, Lanker said.

The proposal was previously denied by planning and zoning.

Both Avondale Irrigation District and North Kootenai Water District assured they could service the development.


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CW wrote on Apr 11, 2008 1:55 PM:

" If ITD wasn't so darn cheap, we'd have an interchange at Lancaster and US95, like we were supposed to get. It's a good thing our legislature provided money to fix our roads...oh wait, they didn't.... "

question wrote on Apr 11, 2008 8:31 AM:

" If you're against urban sprawl AND density at the same time, what is your solution to growth? "

To: Former hayden resident wrote on Apr 10, 2008 8:06 PM:

" So, who's paying you off? Follow the money trail. "

dj wrote on Apr 10, 2008 4:40 PM:

" not that ref to the kid and ice cream again; a well-designed neighborhood is where a kid can explore his 3 acre backyard. "

TO: Former Hayden Resident wrote on Apr 10, 2008 3:54 PM:

" You are suffering from a Cranial-Rectal inversion. Glad you're gone!! "

Lisa Key wrote on Apr 10, 2008 2:40 PM:

" Yes, Ms Key, the Hayden, "Community Planner" pretty much gets what she wants out of this city council.

Apparently they like her East Coast methods of urban sprawl and jamming of ordinances and standards down the throats of those who live in the impacted areas. It has become the mantra of growth decisions by this council.

This development is full of bad mojo. The land in question is not part of Hayden and there is no way that the city should take on this land and project.

Let these developers get what the want out of the county - the one's who own the land. The reason they are working on Hayden to annex the land is because they see that Hayden is so soft and easy on developers.

Hayden City Council - Tell these developers no, once and for all. Tell them to not bother bringing any more modified proposals before you, because they have already taken up too much of your time. Send them packing to go plead their case to the County Commissioners. "

To Former Hayden Resident wrote on Apr 10, 2008 12:52 PM:

" Saying that you are a former Hayden resident pretty much says it all.........now doesn't it??????????? If you were still here you would not be talking trash like you do..................and what the heck do you mean by saying get over it...... growth is coming.............growth has been here for too long as it is and it has gotten out of hand as everyone knows. No "former Hayden resident" NO!!! It is YOU that needs to get your head out of the sand!!! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! "

Growth wrote on Apr 10, 2008 12:39 PM:

" is coming...okay. But how about these new people purchasing the many houses languishing on the market today. This is a disaster waiting to happen. This Lanker person couldn't care less about Hayden or anywhere else in Idaho. Make no mistake, he only cares about his bottom line. Stop the Hayden council...stop Lisa Keys and above all stop Lanker. "

Former hayden resident wrote on Apr 10, 2008 11:05 AM:

" Hayden DOES need this. The non forward think council and residents cannot stop this and should not stop it either. Try working with, not fighting developers. Get over it people, growth is coming and needs to be managed, not avoided with your head in the sand. "

RE Investor wrote on Apr 10, 2008 10:42 AM:

" The RE market is crashing. All over the country, greedy developers have left partially developed housing tracts to squatters and banks. Trashed by people in forfeiture, houses are vandalized and neglected, leaving cities with huge crime and tax revenue problems. The misery and equity devaluation is rampant, and is just now getting up to speed. Approving this pipe-dream will strap area residents with a bucket full of headaches. The developers will be long gone while we have to wade thru the mess. For info about the crashing market, bookmark this: http://thehousingbubbleblog.com/index.html "

RadRevD wrote on Apr 10, 2008 9:45 AM:

" Look for terminology in developer proposals that tries to get around your Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinances. You will not see the term 'variance' used in their proposals. Exceptions to density or similar non-legally defined terms will be employed.

btw...what happened to the traffic circle that KMPO has proposed installing at Government Way & Lancaster. They also want to restrict access to Hwy 95, lower the stretches at Lancaster & McGuire, and install overpasses at the current elevation. Good examples would be the overpasses above I-90 through CDA. "

CC wrote on Apr 10, 2008 9:38 AM:

" no wonder SD271 wants several million for land acquisition. Consider this a done deal as SteveM guides Hayden into the future. "

Apparently wrote on Apr 10, 2008 8:26 AM:

" Lisa Keys is in their pocket. Now they are schmoozing the neighbors. Govt. Way is Lisas' project and we all know what a fiasco that is. She is the one to fight. Stop her and you stop this development. "

LR wrote on Apr 10, 2008 7:59 AM:

" Please dont ruin northern Hayden with this crap hole. "

Only one? wrote on Apr 10, 2008 7:53 AM:

" Were you in a rush to write this story? You kept quoting the same person who's opposed to the project. Is he a spokesman for a group or is there some special interest that person has as an opponent?
You could have provided a more diverse set of opinions to make it more interesting. It seems to be a more complicated issue than how it's presented here. "

R U THAT DENSE wrote on Apr 10, 2008 7:51 AM:

" Why can't you get the fact that we, the people of Hayden, DO NOT WANT THIS DEVELOPMENT? JEEEZ, move on and ruin another area of the country! Good bye! CYA! Move along now! "

NO! NO! and NO! wrote on Apr 10, 2008 7:39 AM:

" If you are a Hayden resident and you don't get off of the couch and do everything in your power to stop this train wreck, then you need to be prepared to live with the unnecessary congestion and the taxes you won't even believe are hitting your mailbox to provide the initial infrastructure and then the never-ending taxes to sustain 1800 more families.

This albatross was soundly trounced by the Planning & Zoning Board, who essentially told the developers in no uncertain terms that this sort of density and urbanism is not what Hayden, Idaho is all about. Especially that area, which incidentally is not even Hayden, but Kootenai County. Why would Hayden want to annex this land into our city boundaries just to accommodate a developer's wishes? (can you say "special interest...."

Our current city council will ignore all that and approve this mess, if WE let them. The developers have spent considerable time and effort doing the end around with the P&Z and schmoozing the council and mayor directly.

Has anybody tried to turn out of the Super1 parking lot at midday lately? Has anyone tried to get across Hwy 95 North of Hayden Ave, at any time of day lately, let alone rush hour? Has anyone seen, or been stuck in the traffic backed up from Hayden Ave and Hwy 95 clear back to Lacey in the morning hours? Has anyone thought that their children's classrooms are already too packed with kids?

Say no Hayden and say it loud and clear or we'll have no one to blame but ourselves for the urban gridlock and tax increase nightmare that we are setting ourselves up for by our City Council. "

sam I am wrote on Apr 10, 2008 6:06 AM:

" thats what 95 needs is another stop light. doesnt anyone else remember that is supposed to be a highway? a faster way from one end of town to the other? "

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