Hayden City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to deny Hayden Lake Marina’s request for a letter of support for its proposed expansion project, which would see the removal and replacement of existing docks with a new configuration that would include 32 new slips.

The Idaho Department of Lands has scheduled a public hearing on the matter April 15.  

“I don’t feel comfortable doing anything before this public hearing,” said councilor David Erickson.  

The decision followed comment from several Hayden Lake residents who raised concerns about the proposal before a packed council chamber. 

“Boats and their wakes have gotten larger — but our lake hasn’t,” said Nancy Spencer, a Hayden Lake resident of 48 years.  

Tom Brown, who has owned lakefront property adjacent to the marina for over 50 years, said the wake from an increase in boater traffic will ultimately damage his dock and the shoreline. 

“It will be undesirable to be on the lake on weekends and busy days,” he added. 

Brown also said no one had contacted him about the project and he was unaware of the proposal until he received a notice from IDL in January.  

Hayden Lake resident Rob Krcmarov shared a similar experience. 

“(They’ve) deliberately avoided community engagement,” he said. 

Application documents obtained by The Press included three letters of support from residents. None of those residents commented during Tuesday’s meeting.  

“I do have somewhat of a queasy feeling about this applicant and what they are trying to do,” said council president Ed DePriest.  

In a letter to the council, Hayden Lake Marina general manager Lindsey Olmstead said the project “is designed to modernize aging infrastructure, enhance safety, and better accommodate the size and needs of today’s recreational boaters.” 

Features would include an updated electrical service, energy-efficient lighting and a new, publicly accessible pump-out facility, according to application documents.  

Olmstead said the project aligns with several key community priorities, including boosting the local economy, improving public access to Hayden Lake, strengthening the partnership between the marina and the City of Hayden and meeting modern environmental standards. 

Councilor Matt Roetter was not convinced.  

“The expansion does not affect our tax base at all,” he said. “From a financial standpoint, we have no interest.” 

Roetter added that he is concerned about parking and increased congestion along Honeysuckle Avenue, noting that his daughters already avoid Honeysuckle Beach during peak season because of the crowds. 

“This is just going to add more to the problem if our own citizens aren’t going to Honeysuckle Beach because it is too crowded,” he said.  

The expansion project will go before a public hearing April 15 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn. Public testimony is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.