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Caldwell hears Middleton mayor’s experience with school-capacity ordinance; workshop set for March 25
Summary
A Middleton official explained how a school-capacity ordinance limited annexations while wastewater capacity was constrained; Caldwell council scheduled a workshop March 25 to review a similar proposal and gather public input before any decision.
Council members and the public heard a presentation from a Middleton official about that city’s Ordinance 693, a school-capacity measure used to limit new annexations that could overload school capacity while wastewater and school construction constraints were resolved.
The Middleton representative said the ordinance temporarily restricted annexations and residential development, helping the district manage school loads while the city secured funding for wastewater capacity and phased school construction. "For us it worked because we had the added difficulty of having a wastewater treatment plant that was at capacity," the presenter said, explaining the policy’s context and the phased approach to new school construction funded by a combination of local contributions and cooperative funds.
Caldwell councilors pressed for details about which school levels the ordinance covered and whether commercial or industrial development were restricted; the presenter said the ordinance applied across elementary, middle and high schools and that commercial approvals continued in some cases. Councilors also asked whether property-tax effects followed; the presenter said property-tax trends were more affected by state-level changes and not by the ordinance itself.
Multiple members of the public urged caution. Local speaker Carlos Hernandez, who said he is running for a state legislative seat, argued a moratorium could simply shift development into unincorporated county land with lower infrastructure standards and described it as a short-term political fix that could take years to affect local school loads.
Council and staff said they will hold a workshop on March 25 at 5:30 p.m. to present details and allow public review; staff noted a Planning & Zoning meeting will precede any final council action on a code change. Councilors emphasized they want materials circulated to stakeholders in advance so the public and affected parties can provide informed comment.
