Hayden residents frustrated by City's response to Stone Creek North concerns

Concerned Hayden Citizens continue to speak out

Over and over in recent City Council meetings, residents have shown up in person to give public comment about their concerns related to the development of a subdivision in Hayden called Stone Creek North. A group of these citizens sent us a press release which we publish below in its entirety.

Hayden City Council will be holding a special meeting on Wednesday, February 8, to discuss Stone Creek North. The City has asked for questions on the topic to be sent to the City Clerk (clerk@cityofhaydenid.us) by February 3 at 5pm.

Press Release from Concerned Hayden Citizens

Stone Creek North development fails to meet requirements; environmental risks include plans to build homes on wetlands and in flood zones
Mayor alters Council agenda and blocks Council Member discussion

February 2, 2023—Hayden, Idaho—Citizens in Hayden continue to be disappointed by the City’s handling of the Stone Creek North development. Most recently, in a standing room only City Council meeting on January 24, 2023, Mayor Scott Forssell gave a monologue about Stone Creek North development, yet he prevented the public from commenting on the issue and shut down discussion from City Council members telling them to wait until a future special meeting to make further comments on the issue.

The Mayor also read a prepared statement that continues to display a one-sided view of the facts, while ignoring the City’s responsibility to its citizens and its requirement to hold developers accountable to the requirements placed on them.

Groundbreaking of the Stone Creek North development will start in early 2023. Citizens in Hayden have uncovered problems with current design plans which include non-compliance with the master development agreement and potential environmental impacts. The Hayden City Council, Mayor Scott Forssell, and city staff must enforce compliance with the City’s own ordinances and show transparency while representing their constituents.

Concerned Hayden citizens request Hayden City Council to 1) protect the health, safety and general welfare of the community; 2) amend the master development agreement to bring it into compliance with City codes, ordinances, and the 2020 City Council’s conditions of approval; and 3) hold the developer accountable to the master development agreement and city and state codes. If the developer cannot comply, the agreement should be terminated.

The Stone Creek North subdivision plan has undergone eight submissions since conditional approval in November 2020 with numerous changes including an increased number of dwelling units (increasing from 66 to 69), and changes in the park plan (reduced size and changes to accessibility and the components included). To the best of the public’s knowledge (through FOIA requests to the city), the eight and current design documents have not been approved by all regulatory bodies.

Wetlands exist in the Stone Creek North subdivision site, which lies in a mapped flood zone, and drain through a stream along existing homes and empty into the aquifer. 150 Hayden citizens signed a petition to request that city code for procedures and environmental studies be applied to this project. In 2020, three of the four City Council members expressed concerns about the wetlands and drainage, stipulated that sensitive area codes be followed, and a downstream analysis be performed. The current City Council has not addressed these concerns and has not applied its own city codes to protect the environment, the existing neighborhoods, and the potential purchasers of homes in the new subdivision.

The development plan has changed from the initial approval in a way that will worsen traffic for neighbors of this subdivision as well as along Buckles Rd, Wyoming Ave, Rocking R Rd, Lacey Ave, and N Maple St. Existing residents do not want a north-to-south thoroughfare running through their neighborhoods. Traffic problems continue to come up in City Council meetings, and traffic was a significant factor that affected the outcome of a recent zone map amendment request.

Since conditional approval more than two years ago, the process has lacked transparency, and the City has shown a dismissive attitude towards its constituents and their concerns.

In this 2023 election year, we ask Mayor Forssell and Hayden City Council to remember that they represent the people of Hayden, are responsible for protecting the public’s health, safety and general welfare, and will be held accountable for their actions on this and other matters facing the City of Hayden.

For inquiries about this press release, please contact:
ConcernedHaydenCitizens@proton.me