Drew Dodson here with this week’s edition of the Valley Lookout newsletter. This week’s preamble is on vacation, along with me. See you next week!

First up

Sewer district to hear Pine Creek Ranch annexation request

The first of several major public hearings associated with a large development proposed in southeastern McCall will be held next Wednesday by the Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District.

The district board is set to consider annexing a 90-acre parcel that would be part of Pine Creek Ranch, a 158-acre subdivision proposed near Payette Lakes Middle School. The parcel must be annexed into the sewer district to connect to the sewer system. 

A public hearing on the annexation request will be held on Sept. 17 at noon in the basement of Idaho First Bank in McCall. 

All public comments must be submitted to the sewer district in writing due to an arcane provision in state law that only allows the board to consider comments submitted in writing. The board may also allow public comments to be read aloud as long as written copies are also submitted.

As proposed, Pine Creek Ranch is expected to include 492 homes. The residential lots could also contain up to 110 accessory dwelling units, or secondary suites. The subdivision is proposed by developer Craig Groves of Donnelly.

Next week’s public hearing is related only to whether the sewer district should annex and extend sewer service to the 90-acre parcel. District officials said public comments should focus on sewer service and not other aspects of the proposal, like traffic or noise.

Development prospects for Pine Creek Ranch are largely reliant on annexing the 90-acre parcel into the sewer district, despite the other 68 acres in the subdivision already being within the district. 

Limited access would make it difficult to develop only the 68-parcel, which is east of the existing Woodlands Subdivision, because there is only one road in and out of the Woodlands, developer Craig Groves of Donnelly told Valley Lookout. 

The 90-acre parcel in the subdivision, however, would provide access through Fox Ridge Lane, Stockton Drive, and Sheila Lane, in addition to Woodlands Drive. 

Even if approved for annexation into the sewer district, plans for the subdivision would still be subject to review by the McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission and the McCall City Council. Groves has not yet submitted a formal application for the subdivision to the city, though updated plans were aired to the P&Z in August, as Valley Lookout reported.

(Photo: About 68 acres on which Pine Creek Ranch is proposed are already in the sewer district, but the southern 90 acres, shown with dashed line, are not. Map: Via Valley County GIS)

City council races uncontested in Cascade, Donnelly, New Meadows

Incumbent city council members in Cascade and Donnelly will not be challenged for re-election this November, while a write-in candidate has filed to challenge New Meadows’ sitting mayor.

New Meadows Mayor Julie Good was initially unopposed for a new four-year term as the city’s top decision-maker, but Richard Yelton, a resident of the city, filed as a write-in candidate by last Friday’s deadline, City Clerk Kyla Gardner said.

Yelton will not appear on the Nov. 4 ballot since he did not file a formal declaration of candidacy by the Aug. 29 deadline, but any votes cast for him will count.

Each council has multiple seats up for re-election to four-year terms, but no candidates filed to challenge sitting council members, clerks for each city told Valley Lookout.

New Meadows council members Traci Foster and Shiloh Ryker are each unopposed in seeking re-election this November.

A fifth seat on the council is currently vacant following the resignation of former council member Josh Carr, though that seat is not up for election this November, Gardner said. The seat can be filled by an appointment approved by sitting council members.

In Cascade, Jason Speer and Denise Tangen are unopposed for new four-year terms on the Cascade City Council, City Clerk Janice Van Winkler said.

In Donnelly, Wendy Davenport filed for re-election to a four-year term on the Donnelly City Council, City Clerk Lori Clemens said.

A second seat held by council member Morgan Fuller is also up for election, but Fuller did not file to run for the seat, Clemens said. Fuller was appointed to the council earlier this year to fill a vacancy.

Valley Lookout will publish candidate Q&A’s for all contested races in the Nov. 4 election over the coming weeks.

Civic Lookout

• McCall City Council: Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Valley County Planning and Zoning Commission: Thursday at 6 p.m. Agenda available here.
• North Lake Recreational Sewer and Water District: Friday at 11 a.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Donnelly City Council: Monday at 6 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• McCall Area Planning and Zoning Commission: Next Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 4:30 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Valley County Commissioners: Wednesdays starting at 9 a.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District: Pine Creek Ranch annexation hearing next Wednesday, Sept. 17, at noon in the basement of Idaho First Bank.

Valley Lookout Original Reporting

Sharlie’s Fan Club: Winter Carnival seeking donations to ‘save parade’

A fundraising effort is underway to keep next year’s Mardi Gras parade as planned. More on that here.

Ziply to offer high-speed fiber internet in Valley County

True high-speed internet service may now be available for more than 1,000 homes and businesses near Donnelly, Lake Fork, and McCall. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

The trip down the hill to Costco might get easier, with possible Idaho 55 location

The popular wholesale retailer is developing plans for a new location in Eagle that could save Valley County shoppers nearly a half hour each round trip. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Mountain Happenings

McCall

• Farmers Market: Today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Second Street in downtown McCall.
• Payette Land Trust Picnic: Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Huffman Pasture at the corner of Farm to Market Road and Potter Lane. More information available here.
• Business Block Party: Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Second Street in downtown McCall, with a silly costume bike parade from Broken Horn Brewing to precede. More information available here.
• Second Sunday Sounds at Six: McCall Community Church to host acclaimed pianist Del Parkinson for a free concert starting at 6 p.m.
• Walking Easel: Rachel Morton to lead a watercolor painting class at Osprey Point in Ponderosa State Park on Monday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Registration costs $40 and is open here.

Donnelly

• Farmers Market: Every Wednesday in Donnelly City Park from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. through September.
• Oktoberfest: Sept. 27 at Tamarack Resort from noon to 5 p.m. $50 discount for purchasing tickets in advance here.

Cascade

• Crab and Seafood feed: Friday at 7 p.m. at the Warm Lake Lodge.
• Old Mill Days: Local historian Dale Fisk to walk guests through historical displays, exhibits, and booths that tell the tale of Cascade’s deep roots in the logging and lumber industry on Saturday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in American Legion Post 60.
• Live music: The Local at Cleark Creek to host Mitch Sevy on Friday at 8 p.m., Jared Graham on Saturday at 8 p.m., and Will Burton on Sunday at 6 p.m., while Dave Nudo will perform at North 55 Social on Friday at 10 p.m.

New Meadows

• Farmers Market: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Dorsey Warr Memorial Park.
• Potluck and Bingo: Tonight at 5 p.m. in the Meadows Valley Community Center.
• New Meadows Youth Center: Grand opening set for Saturday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 400 Peterson Memorial Ave.
• New Meadows Bike-a-thon: Bike from the New Meadows Train Depot to Zims Hot Springs and back for a chance to win a bike and help fundraise for the newly renovated youth center. More information available at City Hall or by calling/texting 208-347-2171.
  

Mountain Pet of the Week

Meet Zapp! Zapp’s owner Lauren says Zapp loves to frolic in the forest like a big, clumsy white bull in a China shop, finding the best-smelling things to roll in to create his signature incredible color-changing effect and earthy musk. Hiking with his people and plopping down in a cold mountain stream are his favorite activities of all.

Click here to nominate your pet for Mountain Pet of the Week for a chance to be featured on a weekly newsletter!