Hideout planning commission backs Wildhorse development agreement, sets safety and infrastructure conditions

The Hideout Planning Commission on Sept. 18 recommended that the Town Council approve a master development agreement (MDA) for the Wildhorse (sometimes referred to in the record as Wild Forest) development and recommended rezoning the project's commercial parcel from Mountain zoning to Neighborhood Mixed Use. The commission attached conditions requiring engineering and planning report items, a trail connection, limits on driveways accessing five lower lots and a written snow‑removal plan.

Commissioners said the recommendation bundles the conditional use permit (CUP) for the cluster development into the MDA so the town's conditions and exceptions will be handled together. Thomas (town planning staff) told commissioners, “the MDA that you see is the MDA that was redlined by the applicants and by the staff,” and that no new project materials had been submitted since the previous hearing.

Why it matters: The MDA and zoning change would allow creation of clustered smaller lots, a commercial building along State Route 248 and overnight rentals that the current zoning would otherwise not permit. Commissioners said the package aims to preserve open space and views while enabling commercial services and municipal revenue, but several members pressed developers for clearer plans addressing vehicle circulation, stormwater and retaining‑wall impacts.

Key facts and conditions - Recommendation and linkage: The planning commission voted to recommend approval of the MDA and to include CUP elements within that agreement so the land‑use exceptions and design review are managed in one legislative package to forward to Town Council. - Snow removal: The commission required a written MDA provision that the town…