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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNeighborhoodMtgLetter_FarmwayVillage_V1Frequently Asked Questions What are the housing authority’s plans? The plan right now is to be annexed into the city. That annexation request will be accompanied by a request to designate the property as a Neighborhood 2 zone, or Medium Density Residential under the city’s recently approved Comprehensive Plan. This will allow the housing authority to move forward with its master plan over the next 10+ years. Is the annexation voluntary? Yes, this annexation is voluntary. Because the masterplan anticipates additional units discussed in the following sections, it is best to be annex now. Additionally, the housing authority signed a Municipal Services Agreement with the city when it was connected to the city’s sewer system in 2014 and another agreement in 2024 when it connected to the city’s drinking water system. Annexation is required by those agreements, but the housing authority must complete the process like any other applicant. We believe going through the process voluntarily is better than allowing it to happen without direct involvement. Is the housing authority going to build more apartments? The housing authority masterplan calls for the development of seventy-two (72) more units of multi-family housing and two hundred (200) recreation vehicle (RV) slips on the southern border of the property. The additional units, including the RV slips, may exceed the allowable units in Neighborhood 1, Low Density Residential zone. However, we are Asking for Neighborhood 2 zoning designation because it will allow the housing authority to keep the store, laundry facility, childcare facility, community center and other planned non-franchise amenities. How are you going to address sewer and drinking water? The housing authority built a 36-inch sewer line to the city’s treatment plant in 2014. The city used ARPA funds and built an 18-inch pressurized water line around Farmway Village that was completed late last year. The housing authority is currently connected to both of those utilities, hence the requirement to be annexed according to the Municipal Service Agreements. Will annexation and rezoning increase traffic in the area? The annexation and rezoning itself will not necessarily increase traffic in the area. Although additional development at Farmway is planned, there are no plans for any specific development activity, other than the RV parking that will be completed in 6 equal phases. In anticipation of growth in the western end of the Treasure Valley, the highway district widened Highway 44 in 2018. Widening will happen again in 2027 when the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) rebuilds the Middleton exit to 4 lanes. Finally, the city is contemplating extending Pond Lane from Highway 20/26 north to Highway 44. How large is Farmway Village? Farmway Village is approximately eighty (80) acres and has 248 units of housing and nine (9) commercial buildings. We are well below our limit. • Neighborhood 1 / Low Density = 2-4 dwelling units/acre or 160 to 240 units of housing • Neighborhood 2 / Medium Density = 8-12 dwelling units/acre or 640 to 960 units of housing The housing authority’s rural setting is one of our biggest selling points. The masterplan for Farmway Village will preserve that rural feeling and maintain the large open areas for tenants to enjoy. How long will it take for the annexation to occur? The annexation process itself may take several months depending on timely submission of the application materials, the availability of city staff, and the schedule of the Caldwell Planning and Zoning Commission. Although we are anxious to complete the process, no additional development is anticipated with the next year or two. Where is the Urban Renewal Area? The new Caldwell North Urban Renewal Boundary, approved in 2021, extends north from the Boise River to Mink Road and west from Centennial Way to Wagoner Road. Farmway Village is set within the boundaries of the URA. Although eligible for infrastructure improvements, no URA funded projects are proposed, or anticipated, at this time. How many more apartments will the housing authority build? If the city zones the property Neighborhood 2, or Medium Density Residential, the housing authority could build as many as 960 units of housing, although there are NO plans for anything close to that. The housing authority masterplan for Farmway Village only calls for the addition of seventy-two (72) more apartments and 200 RV slips, approximately 50% of what would be allowable under the zoning codes. What is planned around Farmway Village? The staff of the housing authority are very interested in the potential development plans in the area and attend all neighborhood meetings, city council meetings, and Urban Renewal Agency meetings. We pride ourselves in being informed and aware of potential developments. We believe there will be an industrial park to our southern border, an Idaho Power sub-station on our southern border, a sizable trucking warehouse to our northern border, a new road supporting industrial developments on our eastern border, and a manufacturing plant and heavy equipment storage on our western border.