Large Rathdrum subdivision OK'd

RATHDRUM — A 179-lot single-family subdivision on 101 acres at the northwest corner of Highway 41 and Lancaster Road was unanimously approved by the Rathdrum City Council on Wednesday night.

Construction on the Thayer Farms subdivision, which will include a variety of lot sizes, 2 miles of walking trails, two pickle ball courts for the public and a dog park, is expected to start this summer and will be completed in phases.

"We've been working on this property for nearly 20 years with the Thayer family," said engineer Drew Dittman who represented applicants that include developer Cliff Mort, of Big Creek Land Company, and Arthur Thayer, representing the estate of George Thayer.

"We're very intimate with this piece of dirt. This is not something new and off the cuff."

About 35 people crowded into the council chambers to hear about the subdivision, but no one spoke against the project during the public hearing. Seven residents marked that they were in favor of the project on a comment sheet, but offered no written comments.

The zoning for the site allows for 410 lots — more than twice the amount that's planned. While the city code allows for limited commercial development, none is planned.

"We wanted to provide something a little different," Dittman said. "With the (Bonneville Power) lines going through we had to get creative and our idea was a variety of lot sizes."

The property is currently vacant with the exception of the 7-acre Thayer home and outbuildings. That lot will become residential lots when irrigation is no longer needed. Access to the subdivision will be from Lancaster.

The adjoining property to the north is the Golden Spoke Estates residential subdivision.

"George (Thayer) and I have been friends a long time," Mort said. "This project is a tribute to him, and he wanted to be here tonight."

The subdivision will include a range of lot and home sizes including:

- 49 cottage lots with a minimum lot size of 5,210 square feet that will have homes 950 to 1,200 square feet;

- 61 traditional lots averaging 7,000 square feet with homes 1,000 to 2,500 square feet; and

- 69 estate lots averaging 36,600 square feet with homes that are 1,500 to 3,500 square feet and an area for shops.

The average lot size in the subdivision is 10,955 square feet.

The first phase will include 18 estate lots and 27 traditional lots. The pickle ball courts, walking paths and dog park in the southwest corner of the project are planned for the sixth phase.

"The phasing will be dependent on market conditions," said Cary Siess, city planner.

There are 28 acres of open space.

Council members had questions about emergency access, snow removal, the size of the cottage lots and how the project will mesh with the future widening of Highway 41 and improvements on Lancaster.

However, they supported the subdivision overall and city staff said those logistics have been addressed by stakeholder agencies and city ordinances.

Mayor Vic Holmes asked Mort if the pickle ball courts could be built fairly early on in the project since the city is currently budgeting for pickle ball courts. Mort said it's possible the courts could be built as early as the middle of 2020.

"Just because there's a (phase) number on it, doesn't mean they'll get built sequentially," Dittman said. "We could build Phase 6 next year."

Resident Michael Fox said he wanted to ensure that the city and applicants are corresponding with Bonneville Power with the plans since open space for the subdivision under the power lines is planned.

Holmes also suggested that the developer fund at least a portion of the sprinkler system for the open space.

Resident Wendy Smith said she hopes the city and developer can come to terms on the open space under the power lines.

"Those of us with kids would like it to be a park with grass, not just wild where anything can grow," she said.

The Planning and Zoning Commission earlier recommended to the City Council that the subdivision be approved if some of the lot sizes were increased. The applicants complied with that request before Wednesday's hearing and agreed to neighbors' request to construct a fence on the northern side of the property.

The property was earlier annexed into the city with a low-density, single-family zoning.