Operation "Save Lancaster"

Some Kootenai County neighbors are opposing a project by the Hayden Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church set to go before county commissioners in October.

The 41,000-square-foot private school and place of worship building would sit on a 10-acre parcel in the agricultural zone of Lancaster and Rimrock Road. Upon completing the school building, the church plans to sell its Government Way building and move its programs into the facility’s gymnasium.

"Presently, we are in the Hayden area, and there were a lot of challenges, fees, and permits connecting to remodeling our building," said Pastor David Morgan, Hayden Lake Church. "Altogether, those would almost cost the same as phase one of construction on the new project."

The project’s first phase includes a new private school facility for homeschooled students from kindergarten to eighth grade. Classes would be offered two days a week, Morgan said. Currently the church has 19 students, Morgan said, but the church’s application anticipates enrollment will increase.

"This isn't a typical school. There won't be school buses or sporting events. The focus is agricultural and religious-based courses that are for homeschooling families," Morgan said. “Our primarily focus would be gardening, practical life skills, tutoring for math and all the other subjects parents need help with.”

Phase two would finalize construction of the church’s new place of worship which would hold Saturday services as well as classes on quoting smoking, depression recovery, financial peace, and diabetes prevention, Morgan said. Usually the church sees about 150 to 170 participants in its weekly services, but the building will be able to accommodate growth to over 300 people.

"As a church, we are there to serve the community,” Morgan said.

Neighbors expressed opposition to the project during a Sept. 17 public hearing, and have created an online petition against it. The petition has about 625 signatures and comments that address concerns for traffic, land use, and quality of life.

“This area is agricultural with homes that were purchased and built because residents wanted to live in the country, not in town,” David and Lorronda Renaldo's written comments said. “These schools will only create a precedent in the area for urbanization. Please don’t allow this area’s beauty to be ruined.”

Neighbors also argued the project goes against Kootenai County’s Comprehensive Plan by increasing traffic and its lack of general assistance to the neighboring community.

"The amount of traffic on Rimrock and Lancaster roads has increased dramatically over the last 10 years," wrote Don and Jan Bjorn. "Proposal CUP19-004 would make the intersection problems much worse. This plan is wrong on so many levels — aesthetically, environmentally, logistically, and for safety reasons."

Morgan said while he understands the concerns of the community, he said the new construction wouldn't have the negative impacts residents fear.

"We desire to fit into the agricultural area. We don't want this building to be an eyesore, but one that fits into the Idaho landscape," he said.

Joan Woodward, Kootenai County Hearing inspector, recommended a denial of the church's conditional use permit. However, the church requested a hearing before county commissioners for further review. In addition to the written comments and examiner decision, Kootenai County community development director David Callahan said the commissioners will consider federal regulations.

The Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 is a federal law that prohibits government zoning regulations that substantially burdens the religious exercise of churches, assemblies or institutions.

"I've been in a court situation in Colorado because of RULIPA, and I was on the losing end," Callahan said. "I know how strong the language is, and in my experience, if a judge believes we've overstepped our bounds, then we have."