HAYDEN — Trees are a vital part of a neighborhood, but even seasoned builder Scott Krajack can't squish more trees than will fit into one housing development area.

While planning for the construction and layout of Gianna Estates on Prince William Loop in Hayden, Krajack realized the city's ordinance, which required one street tree every 20 feet, was unrealistic.

"That was the inspiration for me going to the city," Krajack, land development director for Viking Homes, said Monday. "Once I actually sat down and read the ordinance and tried to follow it as it was written, it was impossible ... I sat down with them and said, 'Guys, I don't think I can possibly meet this.'"

Krajack said the ordinance had two major flaws — it didn't recognize that the triangular areas on each intersection corner are off limits to trees, and it didn't consider sidewalks and driveways and how much room trees need so their roots don't destroy the concrete.

"Once you took all those out, it was physically impossible to put in that number of trees without it looking horrible," he said, adding no matter what, it just wasn't going to work. "They did the math, they agreed with me ... and they reflected upon that."

Krajack spoke to community and economic development director Connie Krueger and her team and they found Hayden City Code Title 11, Chapter 11 needed an update.

"That was something that came out of a conversation," Krueger said. "It was almost impossible. The code was modified to be more consistent."

Last week, the Hayden City Council modified 21 city codes, including the one regarding street tree spacing. Now one street tree is required every 50 feet and locational landscaping requirements are clearer.

"I did appreciate that Connie and everyone else at the city of Hayden has taken this approach where they'll look at a problem," Krajack said. "They've actually taken the time to correct the ordinance so that nobody has this problem in the future.

"It makes a lot more sense. Tons better."

Hayden officials are constantly taking notes about what they can improve. Krueger said this was about the sixth time codes have been updated since she was hired five years ago.

"We’re already starting on the process for the next set,” Krueger said. “It’s a never-ending cycle, but it’s important."

The city code modifications range from the very specific to more generally anticipating the growth for which Hayden is poised.

"Some of these won’t affect everybody,” said city administrator Brett Boyer. “Individual folks won’t need to worry about some of these things.”

One of the code changes now allows for two, rather than just one, people who wish to serve on the city’s planning and zoning committee to live outside city limits as long as they reside within Kootenai County.

"Under state law, the planning commissioners have to live in the county,” Krueger said. “Our local ordinance only allowed for one (to live outside city limits).”

Other code changes included making bicycle parking in commercial and industrial zones optional rather than required, revising some special use permit rules, establishing what constitutes a kitchen for an accessory living unit, increasing the number of allowed drive-through sign boards from one to two, and many more.

For people who reside in homes within commercial zones, these code updates are good news, Krueger said. Before, if a house in a commercial area was destroyed by a fire or otherwise, residents could not rebuild.

"Now you would be able to rebuild it in full," Krueger said. "We want people to get refinanced."

Boyer said some of the changes "have been in the pipeline for a little while.

"We went through them title by title," he said. "This is a current effort and will be an effort as we go forward as we listen to developers and business owners. As specific codes come up and they don't make sense, we'll look at changing them."

Hayden Mayor Steve Griffitts commended Krueger and those involved for reviewing and updating the city codes, which can be a very detailed process.

"The reason is those are much more business-friendly ordinances and code changes to make Hayden a much better place to do business," he said. "There was a lot of good work done by Connie and her team. Planning and zoning did a great job.”