Marina project could return

Plans for the proposed Hayden Lake Marina expansion project may be resubmitted following the recent withdrawal of the application. 

The Idaho Department of Lands received the withdrawal March 27, preceded by the Hayden City Council’s unanimous vote to withhold support of the project without first hearing from the public. 

A representative of the project, who asked to remain anonymous, said the project organizers have paused their efforts and are reassessing next steps while shifting focus to other projects. At this time, there is no timeline for when, or if, the current application or a revised version will be resubmitted.

This action comes amid public backlash over the application. Community members expressed their displeasure not only with the proposed remodel and expansion of slips, but also with the lack of community engagement on the matter.

The representative with Hayden Lake Marina also suggested that some of the public concerns may have been overstated and that the project organizers followed Idaho law.

“The process requires the application to be submitted before community engagement … it would be like asking your neighbors to approve the design of your house before you applied for your building permit,” and that, “It is putting the cart before the horse.”

Jan Wilkins, president of the Hayden Lake Watershed Association, was pleased the application to expand the marina was withdrawn.

"We hope that if the applicant chooses to return with a revised proposal, it will be developed in genuine partnership with the community from the outset," she wrote. "That is a conversation we would welcome."

The IDL hearing set for April 15 on the project was canceled.