Commission denies recommendation for Hayden Homes rezone after residents raise traffic, school and water concerns

The Rathdrum Planning & Zoning Commission voted to deny recommending that the city council approve a rezoning request by Hayden Homes and the Ragnar Aristad Living Trust to change approximately 124 acres from industrial to MR (Mixed Residential). The motion to recommend approval failed on the initial roll call and the commission subsequently passed a motion to deny the application.

Why it matters: the proposal would implement the city's future land-use designation for residential development on a large parcel at the Meyer/Lancaster area (the applicant describes the parcel as roughly 156'57 acres total, of which 124 acres were requested for MR and 33 acres would remain industrial). Residents who spoke at the hearing warned of increased traffic, stretched school capacity, declines in water pressure, and loss of rural character.

Applicant and staff presentations Brad Marshall, a planner with JEP Engineers representing Hayden Homes, told the commission the MR zoning district would allow only single-family housing (no apartments or multifamily dwellings) and would require a mix of lot sizes equivalent to R-1, R-2 and R-3 lot-size categories. Marshall said about 33 acres along Bagel/Bacall Road (transcript uses various spellings) would be retained as industrial, while the balance would be rezoned to MR to implement the adopted comprehensive-plan designation of low-density residential. He said the site has municipal water and sewer nearby and that additional studies (traffic, sewer, stormwater) would be required during subdivision.

City planner James told the commission the parcel was…