New group aims to slow growth

HAYDEN — A new political action committee led by a Hayden city councilman aims "to advance sensible growth while preserving the quality of life."

"Hayden’s small-town atmosphere is eroding due to explosive development above the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer," says a press release. "Traffic congestion will only worsen as thousands of new homes are built in the next few years in already approved subdivisions."

The "Preserve the City of Hayden" committee, headed by Councilman Matt Roetter, says it wants to deter rapid population increases and promote low-density development. 

According to the Federal Elections Commission, a political action committee (PAC) is established to solicit monetary contributions for financing independent expenditures and other political activities. 

Preserve the City of Hayden PAC members have already begun soliciting donations and seeking volunteers. 

The group officially formed in August. Members include several longtime Hayden residents including Joy Richards, Connie Wesson, Susan Edwards and Robert Harding. Roetter serves as the PAC's chairman. 

Last week, the PAC endorsed Ed DePriest and Sandy White for Hayden City Council. Incumbents Jeri DeLange and Dick Panabaker, who hold the contested council seats, are both campaigning for re-election. 

The committee selected DePriest and White for their "slow growth and low density" platforms, according to the PAC statement. As part of the PAC goals, the group plans to "promote, fund, and help elect" the two candidates. 

DeLange said she was "greatly surprised" Roetter would lead a PAC concerning growth when the City Council recently took steps to address citizen concerns. 

"I am shocked that a council member would be so vocal on their personal agenda instead of trying to work together with the rest of the council," DeLange told the Press on Wednesday.

Specifically, DeLange pointed to the unanimous council decision to hold off on zone-change amendments to the Hayden Future Land Use Map. Over the next year, DeLange said, the council wants to hear from residents to find a better path forward. 

"I wish we would have had more citizen input originally in the two-year planning process to update the 2008 Comprehensive Plan," DeLange said. "Then we might not have all this divisiveness, and we could have considered going in a direction to slow down growth and density." 

Panabaker, a Kootenai County native with family ties to the area since 1919, has seen many aspects of the community change. During his seven-year term as Hayden mayor in the 1990s, Panabaker said the council worked to preserve three things:

• Quality of life

• Small-town feel

• Low taxes 

Panabaker believes the council, and subsequent officials, have accomplished that goal. 

"I'm very emotional about this because I think we've done a good job representing all the people here," Panabaker said. "It is hurtful to those who have worked for years to provide what it seemed the community wanted just for people to come at our throats." 

One of the objectives defined in the PAC release is to shift some residential tax burden to developers and builders through impact fees. The committee contends the current fee charges are "too low to address deficiencies" caused by "explosive growth."

"Due to Hayden's property tax structure, growth does not pay for itself. This means that for every new residential unit that is built, the city spends more in municipal services than is collected in property taxes," it says. "The city will either go bankrupt or increase property taxes so more people can move to Hayden."

Panabaker said making growth "pay for itself" is difficult due to legal limitations on city governments. He added that Hayden has maintained one of the lowest property tax levy rates in the state for several years — which, in turn, limits how much money the city can spend.

"There have been times we knew we needed to raise the levy rate, so we talked to the city of Boise, and they told us to put it out for a vote," Panabaker said. "Our chances of getting the public to approve a levy rate increase is like throwing a snowball in hell." 

According to the PAC statement, the group's main mission is to "transition the city" into one that encourages low-density developments and slow population growth over the next 20 years. To do that, the PAC plans to support officials based on its "low and slow" premise.

One of the group's goals is to "seek and find a Hayden mayoral candidate to run in 2023." Hayden Mayor Steve Griffitts said he doesn't plan to seek re-election. 

Though he didn't comment on the PAC endorsements, Griffitts said he has faith in the future officials elected by Hayden voters.

"It has always been my focus and role to ensure that we preserve the values and lifestyle associated with Hayden," Griffitts said. "My hope is that we look for leaders that represent the entire city and are focused on its values, goodness and future."

Other goals of the committee are:

• Promote public awareness of "low and slow" growth

• Increase understanding of the importance of protecting the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer, Hayden Lake and the Spokane River from contamination related to development 

• Collaborate with local and regional environmental groups to protect the Hayden quality of life

• Shift the "cost burden of growth" from Hayden residents to developers and builders

Roetter did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Press.