The prospect of workforce housing factored into a decision this week by the Donnelly City Council to approve plans for more than 100 homes and apartments along Boulder Creek.
The plans, submitted by Joe Critchfield of Cascade, call for 84 apartments, 14 recreational cabins, three short-term rentals, and a clubhouse on a 22.8-acre property at 203 Eld Ln. Pathways on the site would connect the residences to bridges across Boulder Creek to an entertainment venue.
The council voted 4-0 to approve the concept plan despite opposition from neighbors who worry traffic from the development could create dangerous conditions on Eld Lane.
“I wouldn’t like it (either),” Council Member Leslie Minshall said. “But it meets the letter of the law.”
The inclusion of 84 apartments that are expected to be long-term rentals helped make the proposal more appealing for some council members.
“I know it’s not ideal in a lot of ways and I struggle with that,” Council Member Wendy Davenport said. “But I struggle with knowing he’s willing to build something and bring in housing for people.”
Valley County’s economy has long been plagued by a lack of affordable housing that makes it difficult for local businesses to staff for demand driven by the region’s tourism economy. A 2024 report estimated the region needs 1,200 new homes to meet existing and future demand. Most of those homes, the report said, should target households making a combined $90,000 per year or less.
“Everyone knows that there’s a need for (housing),” Council Member Brenna Spade said. “Not everyone is willing to put up the money and be able to do it, and Joe and his team are willing to actually do it.”
Infrastructure costs could sink project
Although the council approved Critchfield’s concept plan for the property, he still needs city approval for final design plans before construction can begin. Critchfield told Valley Lookout after the meeting that he does not know when – or if – he will seek that approval.
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“We are working diligently to put together all of the requirements/conditions that the city is demanding and allocating their appropriate costs to determine if this project can actually happen or not,” he said.
The approval requires Critchfield to fund several improvements to Eld Lane, including rebuilding its intersection with Idaho 55 and adding turn lanes to the highway.
He would also need to install electronic pedestrian crossing signage for an Idaho 55 crosswalk near Eld Lane, which could be linked with other pathways to provide a walking route to Donnelly Elementary School.
The Idaho Transportation Department could impose further requirements for improving Idaho 55, pending the results of an in-progress traffic study.
Critchfield also must build 44 feet of curb, gutter, and sidewalk along his property’s Eld Lane frontage, which is across the street from the North Lake Recreational Sewer and Water District office and treatment plant.
The city only approved 84 apartments on the property instead of the 97 originally sought by Critchfield, who previously told council members that maxing out density on the property was key to the project’s financial viability.
Zoning on the property allows for a maximum of 88 dwelling units, which are accounted for by an existing home on the site and plans for the 84 apartments and three short-term rentals. The 14 recreational cabins included in the proposal do not count toward zoning density, under city code.
Neighbors: ‘It doesn’t sound like a great place to live’
Traffic generated by the development was one of the main concerns raised by neighbors of the project. An analysis by Mark Butler, the city’s contract planning consultant, estimated the project will generate about 766 vehicle trips per day on Eld Lane.
“How would it affect your street, your neighborhood, to have every single one of these trips all traveling down your street in front of your home to access Highway 55?” said Donnelly Mayor Susan Dorris, who recused herself from the hearing and spoke in opposition of the project as a neighboring property owner.
“It doesn’t sound like a great place to live, much less raise a family,” Dorris said.
Other residents of the gravel roadway said the increased traffic may create congestion and, ultimately, a safety hazard. Eld Lane currently only has one outlet onto Idaho 55, with no other alternatives for getting into and out of the neighborhood. Some residents said Critchfield should be required to build a secondary access onto West Roseberry Road to resolve safety concerns while also dispersing traffic.
“It’s going to be virtually impossible to make a left-hand turn off Eld Lane,” Rex Frazier said. “The (secondary) access point is necessary for this project to go through.”
“If for some reason we all had to leave, imagine what a scene that could be,” said Dan Margolis.
Council members requested more information about a potential secondary access following a Jan. 26 hearing, but scrapped the idea after confirming the lone access complies with fire code.
Critchfield told Valley Lookout after the meeting that requiring a second access would’ve “most likely” made the project economically infeasible.
Neighbors also previously raised concerns about noise generated by a commercial entertainment venue planned across from the apartment complex and Boulder Creek. The facility could include a stage, a vendor area, a greenbelt pathway, and a gathering space, according to the application.
Like the apartments, the entertainment venue remains subject to city design review approval.
Critchfield owns several businesses in Cascade, including North 55 Social, Tackle Tom’s, Arrowhead RV Park, and the liquor store.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source valleylookout.com ’
