Hayden City Council Denies Marina Dock Expansion Support Request

The Hayden City Council voted unanimously Tuesday 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 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.

Councilor David Erickson cited the upcoming regulatory process as grounds for restraint. "I don't feel comfortable doing anything before this public hearing," he said. Councilor Matt Roetter was not convinced of the project's merits for the city either. "The expansion does not affect our tax base at all," he said, adding 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," Roetter said.

The applicant listed for the project is Southern Marinas Hayden Lake, LLC, which originally acquired Hayden Lake Marina in 2021. A representative for the project said it 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. The company stated that "the primary purpose of this project is to modernize and expand the Hayden Lake Marina docks to meet current industry standards for boat sizes, which now average 24 to 26 feet."

The project, located at 3830 E. Hayden Lake Rd., proposes a comprehensive modernization and expansion of the existing marina facilities, changing the dock footprint and adding new slips to bring total capacity to 247 slips. In its review of the proposal, the Hayden Lake Watershed Association board of directors identified several initial concerns, including inadequate parking, increased traffic impacts on Hayden Lake Road and nearby residences, and safety concerns associated with relocating gas pumping farther from the shoreline.

The Idaho Department of Lands has scheduled a public hearing on the matter for April 15 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn. The council's refusal to offer a letter of support does not block the project outright, but leaves Southern Marinas without the city's endorsement heading into that regulatory review.