Hayden Urban Renewal Agency could expand district

Hayden Urban Renewal Agency board members are exploring possibilities to expand the renewal district to dedicate money to key intersection improvements.

“This is still very high level speculation at this point,” HURA’s Executive Director Melissa Cleveland said.

No commitments to expand the district are in place and no studies have been done yet, Cleveland said, but expanding the district, with council guidance could be something the board opts to do if it benefits the city.

HURA board member Randy McIntire spoke through public comment to Hayden City Council members at a regular meeting Tuesday, seeking input for which intersections and projects are the highest priority for the city and council.

For example, the intersection at Ramsey Road and Hayden Avenue has been a sore spot for Hayden residents, but it’s currently outside the HURA district, which mostly runs north and south along Government Way and U.S 95.

Council members could guide HURA board members to expand the district to include that intersection, which would fund and possibly expedite improvements. That could free up some funding in the city budget for other projects, said Hayden City Council President Matt Roetter, who also serves on the HURA board.

“I just want to make it clear that my position is that whatever land that we expand is just to improve the intersections along Government Way,” Roetter said.

Land for some planned improvements on Government Way are not completely included in the district, McIntire said. The first priority for expansion would be land for key projects on Government Way.

Illustrations on the HURA website show how the district could expand to the northwest side of Lancaster Avenue, to remove an old building and allow commercial property to redevelop there. New commercial developments would visually integrate to the southwest side of Lancaster, where there is a new gas station and business complex.

“The city needs to give the HURA board the priority of where the funding could go,” Roetter said. “I’m pushing for our roads and to improve them.”

City administrator Brett Boyer said intersection improvements are a top priority for Hayden citizens, so they are a top priority in the city budget. But to construct the five intersections most in need of improvement would cost roughly twice what’s in the city’s budget. HURA funds could be directed toward problem intersections before the district expires in 2029.

“By the time we get to the end of the district, we’ll probably have about $12 million,” Roetter said. “We have about $5 million right now.”

Some key intersections the city plans to improve include Government Way and Honeysuckle Avenue; Lancaster Avenue and Government Way; Hayden Avenue and Ramsey Road; and Honeysuckle Avenue and Ramsey Road, as outlined in the city’s transportation plan. Streets that will need widening or increased capacity will be parts of Government Way, Ramsey Road, Fourth Street and Hayden Avenue.

HURA funds could cover some of those, especially if the district is expanded.

Urban renewal funds are outside the city’s budget, so they don't have the same constraints. City safety impact fees must be spent on safety projects. Traffic impact fees must be spent on traffic projects. HURA funds can be used for the highest priority projects in the city, and can give the city staff some flexibility, with restrictions.

An urban renewal district is intended to set aside district property taxes for a limited time to assist in financing neighborhood improvements and encourage private development, all funded by growth, according to a description on the Kootenai County website.

Some proposed projects already within the HURA boundaries include adding a restroom and concession stand to Croffoot Park, intersection and road improvements along Government Way, redesigning McIntire Family Park or creating a community center. The community center is low on the priority list, McIntire said, but HURA is willing to bring it forward based on council feedback.