Council adopts 2045 comprehensive plan update after staff briefing; some members dissent

The Hayden City Council on Nov. 18 adopted a resolution formally approving the 2045 Comprehensive Plan update and updated future land use map after a staff presentation and public hearing.

City planning staff (Donna) reviewed the update’s purpose and contents: the plan is a statutory long‑range guide for land use and community vision (not a zoning ordinance), it reflects updated demographic data (median age reported to have risen from 40.7 to 43.1), housing indicators (median home prices rose 142% from 2013 to 2023; median rent up 78% over that period; about one quarter of homeowners and nearly half of renters are cost‑burdened), and updates to chapters covering land use, transportation, natural environment, parks and recreation, local services and implementation. The plan also incorporates results from a 2023 citizen survey (~1,200 responses) and public engagement through planning and zoning workshops and an open house in 2024.

Staff explained that the plan retains the city’s vision of ‘‘responsible growth’’ and tools to manage future uses, but does not itself rezone property. Questions from council addressed how the citizen survey is referenced (it is included as an appendix and can be used as one element in deliberations), map data sourcing (critical natural areas map was derived from an all‑hazards mitigation plan and had not been updated because the county mapping division indicated no new data), and implementation steps (appendix A will guide actions and expected next steps such as code amendments, if council directs).

After the presentation and hearing (no public testimony forms were submitted), a motion to adopt the resolution passed with recorded roll‑call votes: Council member White voted no; Council member Schaefer yes; Council President Rotor yes; Council member DePries no. The resolution repeals conflicting prior resolutions and adopts the 2045 plan and future land use map as the city’s guiding comprehensive plan document.

Council and staff noted that map and area‑of‑impact work with Kootenai County remains underway and that some public stakeholders (for example, the Hayden Lake Watershed Association) expressed concerns about accuracy of certain maps and potential development outcomes during the county process. The city administrator said the county’s public‑notice and hearing process on area of impact mapping had procedural problems at the county level and that county action is expected to continue in January.