EDITORIAL: Rathdrum City Council fought the good fight, made the right decision

As much as we might not like it, growth is inevitable in North Idaho. It has happened. It is happening. It will continue to happen. 

People are going to keep moving here, companies are going to keep building houses, townhomes and apartments for them to live in and more vehicles are going to fill our highways and streets. This is the new normal.

We might long for the old days when homes weren't built on every piece of vacant land, but they are. We preferred it when we knew the people who lived in the house down the street, but now, it's a short-term rental and with summer in full swing, get used to strangers as your neighbors. 

Now, we're not saying growth is bad. It's not. People moving or visiting here is a good sign. It's part of a strong economy. We understand why people want to live in North Idaho. It's a great place.

What we want to avoid is so much growth that it spirals out of control and nothing can be done. Now, many would argue that has already happened. When was the last time a city denied a proposed development? 

The Rathdrum City Council did just that not long ago when it denied the rezoning of the 127-acre Arestad property bordered by Boekel and Meyer roads in a 3-1 vote in May. Hayden Homes had requested the parcel of land be rezoned from industrial to mixed residential, proposing construction of nearly 500 homes over six to eight years.

The request was denied on the grounds that the project would not satisfy the city’s first criteria for establishing a mixed-residential zoning district, which states that “traffic not have a detrimental effect on the carrying capacity of collector and arterial streets.”

Many residents were concerned with the impact another subdivision would have on their community.

But, on Wednesday, the Rathdrum City Council reversed course and unanimously approved Hayden Homes' request to rezone the property, clearing a path for a 500-home development. 

As upset as some may be with Rathdrum City Council members, they probably didn't have a choice as Hayden Homes met the requirements for the zone change. 

Mischelle Fulgham, a land use attorney and legal representation for Hayden Homes, said the homebuilder had met the criteria for rezone approval. If the City Council had denied it, the city may have faced legal action.

Give Rathdrum City Council credit for listening to those residents who were concerned how the development will affect their lives. It did what it could and denied the zone change. It also recognized the legalities involved when it approved the zone change.

Hayden Homes did what it had to do. It sought reconsideration, got it, and successfully argued its case. Nothing wrong with that. They build homes for a living and people are ready and willing to pay for them. That land was not going to sit vacant. 

Remember, too, that Idaho is a state where property rights are paramount.

As we said, growth will continue, but a check and balance system, such as that of the Rathdrum City Council, will bring it about in a controlled manner.