Hayden City Council off to busy start

HAYDEN — A lengthy discussion about an accessory dwelling unit, a rally cry to give a louder voice to the people and a swearing-in of two new members Tuesday evening marked the first meeting of the year for the Hayden City Council.

The council chamber was packed as outgoing Councilman Richard Panabaker and Councilwoman Jeri DeLange stepped aside to make way for incoming Councilwoman Sandra White and Councilman Ed DePriest.

Hayden Mayor Steve Griffitts thanked Panabaker and DeLange for their work, professionalism, time and effort they spent representing the citizens of Hayden.

"It has been an honor to serve with you," Griffitts said to them.

When asked if they had anything to say, Panabaker said he'd rather not get started.

"My mother raised me if I hadn't got anything nice to say to keep my mouth shut," Panabaker responded.

"It's been an honor to serve the citizens of Hayden," DeLange said as she welcomed White and DePriest.

The new council unanimously appointed Councilman Matt Roetter as council president, succeeding former Council President Roger Saterfiel.

The appeal of a building permit for an accessory dwelling unit on a residential property at Orchard Avenue and Ramsey Road required questions and input from council members, city officials, legal council and property owners.

Nick Beveridge plans to build an accessory living unit on the north end of his property, but his northern neighbor Sharon Smith is opposed to those plans. Accessory dwelling units in Hayden are allowed for residential use, such as mother-in-law quarters or even vacation rentals.

"I think that this ADU that has been applied for is wrong because it violates the letter, spirit and intent of that conditional zoning agreement," Smith said, referring to a zoning agreement that had been established for that 1-acre parcel in 2006. The parcel has since been split into two, but the zoning agreement only allows for three dwellings, such as a house or accessory dwelling unit, to exist on the two properties.

"If you deny the appeal, I hope you will do it with allowing a buffer between the Beveridge property and my property, because without that, there's a second dwelling where people can live that's just 10 feet off the fence and can see across the property line. We'd lose part of the privacy we've enjoyed," Smith said. "I don't want to be an angry neighbor, but I'm being pushed to the limits."

City attorney Caitlin Kling reviewed the language in the zoning development and said it's clear this unit is legal to build.

In terms of risk and potential liabilities for the city, Kling said to deny the permit would "be denying somebody a valid building permit for an accessory dwelling unit allowed outright in their zone, but also in their zoning development agreement."

After much deliberation, the council unanimously voted to deny the appeal.

"I didn't really know what her concern was, but obviously she just didn't want somebody building by her," Beveridge said. "I'll put up some arborvitaes and try to keep her happy. I don't know what else to do. With the other neighbor, I'd be happy to abolish the agreement that's currently in place so he can also put up an ADU if he needed a second (building)."

DePriest has his eyes on Hayden's comprehensive plans and areas of city impact.

"I believe the future land use map currently basically ties the city into development that a large number of residents don't believe is in the best interest of the city and the people of the city," he said.

He encouraged all of Hayden's residents to be active in their community by attending council meetings and workshops so their voices will be heard directly by those who represent them.

"You have to come," DePriest said. "You have to bring your neighbors and friends. I'd like to see this place packed, especially when we have the hearings and the workshops, because you're the ones who are going to really help us make decisions about how the city runs and the direction it goes."