Drew Dodson here with your weekly Valley Lookout newsletter. As our “first spring” appears to be winding down with snow in the forecast into this weekend, the glut of development news in this week’s edition reminds us that spring is still just around the corner.

First up

Pine Creek Ranch developer to host community meetings

The developer behind a proposal to build 600-plus homes in southeastern McCall is inviting community members to learn more about the project on March 20.

Craig Groves of Donnelly, the developer of Pine Creek Ranch, and other representatives of the project will host public meetings at the Evergreen Hotel from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Housing, utility infrastructure, transportation, pathways, and community character are among the topics Groves expects to cover in the meetings.

“In preparation for our final submittal to the city, we wanted to engage the community in a discussion about housing for all generations,” Groves told Valley Lookout.

The meeting is not part of the entitlement process with the City of McCall that Pine Creek Ranch will be subject to. Groves will still be required to hold a neighborhood meeting for property owners who live within 300-feet of the 158-acre proposal near Payette Lakes Middle School.

Groves expects to submit a pre-application to the city this spring, with a formal application to follow in the summer.

The proposal will require up to seven different applications involving the annexation of county land into the city, re-zoning land for higher residential density, site design, phasing, and infrastructure improvements necessary to serve the subdivision. 

In December, Groves completed an environmental review of the project that was triggered by the city’s 2021 designation of the project zone as an “area of critical concern,” as BoiseDev reported.

Volunteer firefighter open house day

Fire districts serving McCall and Cascade will host open houses on Saturday in a bid to recruit more volunteer firefighters.

The open houses will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cascade Fire Station at 109 E. Pine St. in Cascade as well as the McCall Fire Station at 201 Deinhard Ln. Attendees will be offered tours of each station and the apparatus, as well as information on the role volunteers play with each department.

Kelsey Hyatt, a firefighter/EMT with Cascade Fire, said volunteer roles are flexible.

“If there’s a call or emergency, you respond when you can,” Hyatt said. “Plus, you can choose a role that fits your interests and availability. Whether you’re on the front lines or helping with support roles like fundraising or public education, there’s a way for everyone to get involved.”

Hyatt admits there are “sacrifices,” but said she views it as “trading time to make a difference in my community.”

The open house sessions are part of the Idaho Fire Chief Association’s statewide campaign to recruit more volunteers, particularly to rural fire departments.

Patty Morgan, the executive director of the association, called volunteer firefighters the “backbone” of many communities.

“Seven out of ten firefighters and EMTs in Idaho are volunteers,” Morgan said. “Without them, many small towns and rural areas wouldn’t have the fire and emergency medical services they need. We rely on our volunteers—our neighbors and friends—to step up and make a difference.”

Tamarack proposes new base area development

The Valley County Planning and Zoning Commission will review two applications this week for 73 new homes and townhomes in the Tamarack Resort base area.

Public hearings on the applications will be held at 6 p.m. in the Valley County Courthouse in Cascade. The meeting can also be watched live on YouTube.

One application, known as the Ponderosa Ridge Subdivision, would create 13 “villa” lots from a four-acre site off Village Drive that currently contains offices, employee daycare, and six temporary employee housing units. Those functions would be moved elsewhere in the resort, according to the application.

The site was originally planned for up to 20 townhomes under the original concept plan approved by Valley County in 2002.

A second application seeks permission to build the Aspen Townhomes in what is currently known as the Aspen Parking Lot, which is off Village Drive near West Mountain Road. Each of the 60 townhomes planned would have a two-car garage, according to plans.

Meanwhile, the parking lot would be replaced with a new seven-acre parking lot that would contain 864 parking spaces and 14 RV sites with electric hookups. The parking lot would be called the “Trillium Parking Lot” and be accessed by a new roundabout on Village Drive.

The land proposed for the townhomes was originally envisioned as a parking area in the 2002 concept plan approved by Valley County, while the proposed new parking area was approved for 23 cottages in 2023.

The approved concept plan allows for up to 2,043 residential units, of which 653 have already been platted. The Aspen Townhomes and Ponderosa Ridge Subdivision would bring that total to 726.

Tamarack hopes to begin construction this summer. Construction would be in phases through 2028, depending on demand, according to the applications.

Civic Lookout

• Cascade School Board: Tonight at 6 p.m. Agenda available here.
• McCall City Council: Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Agenda available here.
• Valley County Planning and Zoning Commission: Thursday at 6 p.m. Agenda available here.
• Valley County Commissioners: Monday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• Donnelly City Council: Monday at 6 p.m. Agenda to be posted here.
• State Land Board: Next Tuesday at 9 a.m. in Boise. Agenda and live stream information to be posted here.

Valley Lookout Original Reporting

McCall looks to hike boat ramp fees—if you don’t live in Idaho

Out-of-state boaters could soon be on the hook for twice as much as Idaho residents pay to use the City of McCall’s Payette Lake boat ramp. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Red Ridge Village plans to be re-submitted with minimal changes

The developer behind a proposal that could build more than 1,000 homes near McCall says significant changes are not expected to plans that were submitted last fall before being withdrawn amid strong public opposition. Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

McCall, Valley County ease impact area tensions after ‘rocky start’

Officials from McCall and Valley County met on Monday to clear the air surrounding upcoming changes to the McCall Impact Area and chart a path forward after what one council member labeled a ‘rocky start.’ Read the full story on Valley Lookout.

Mountain Happenings

McCall

• Fish Hatchery Tour: Saturday at 11 a.m. Tour is free, but attendees must register in advance here.
• Live music: Bethany Highley will be live in the Salmon River Brewery Courtyard on Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., while Foresters will host Eli Howard and the Greater Good on Friday night at 8 p.m. ($10 cover) and New Age Phonograph on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ($5 cover)
• Vets-R-Us Hangout: Tonight from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the McCall Community Center. For more information, call Linda at 208-870-2699.
• Tabletop Tuesday: Board game night at the McCall Public Library from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Donnelly

• Scavenger Hunt: Tamarack Resort to host a resort-wide scavenger hunt that starts this Saturday and ends March 30. More information available here.
• Rhythm of the Heart: Yoga class on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Grange Hall at Tamarack Resort. More information available here.
• Snowmobile Club Ride: Donnelly Snowmobile Club to host a ride starting from the Platt Warming Hut on West Mountain Road on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. More information available here.

Cascade

• Art of Mindful Meditation: Tonight from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Cascade Cultural Arts Center. To register for the free class, call Shauna Arnold at 208-634-6906.
• Wii Bowling League: Thursday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at The Local at Clear Creek. No registration necessary.
• Homestyle Chili Cook-off: Doors open at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at Hotel Nobo, with judging to start at 6 p.m. $20 entry fee due by Friday.

New Meadows

• Potluck and Bingo: Tonight at the Meadows Valley Community Center starting at 5 p.m.
• Food Bank Day: Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at United Methodist Church.
• Beer and Gear: Demo top flight equipment and brews on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Brundage Mountain Resort.

Mountain Pet of the Week

Meet Dokker! Owner Travis Smith of McCall says Dokker is loving his new home in McCall after previously living in a small apartment in Utah. Dokker enjoys endless outdoor time, especially on deep powder, and spending time with neighbors who he secretly loves more than Travis.

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