Bonner Milltown Council weighs Blackfoot Crossing plan; residents demand affordability metrics, oppose travel plaza

Bonner Milltown — The Bonner Milltown Community Council spent its Dec. 8 meeting focused on the Blackfoot Crossing development application, pressing the developer and county staff for measurable commitments on attainable housing, deeded caps on density and clarity about water and wastewater approvals while many residents voiced strong opposition to a proposed travel plaza.

Council members and residents said they support the stated goal of bringing more housing to the area but want concrete metrics that define what the developer means by “attainable” or “affordable.” Greg, the property owner and project applicant, told the meeting that the project “will be as affordable as I physically can” and said the team plans to use standard affordability metrics such as area median income (AMI) and to partner with community land trusts and Habitat for Humanity. He said county staff are involved in shaping requirements tied to targeted economic-development funding.

Residents repeatedly asked for a clear affordability target they can point to in a letter to county decision-makers. One participant urged…