HomeMy Public PortalAboutPayette Lake Lodge - ProposedMcCall sets hearing on land swap
McCall residents will have a park would be traded. As the owner By trading for the Century 21 his site.
chance next week to comment on of the land, Manchester would then site instead of buying it, the city Also, Manchester must pledge
the proposed land swap between the be able to lease the lakefront parcel expects to save about $120,000 that to build a complex worth at least $3
city of McCall and developer in front of the burner site that is can be used toward financing park million, and he cannot excavate
Douglas Manchester. claimed by the Idaho Department of development. The lakefront park is more than 30 percent of the lake -
A public hearing on the land Lands. the main project of a $1.1 million front land next to Mill Park without
trade is set to start at 7:30 p.m. next In return, Manchester would give parks and recreation bond issue ap-
Thursda , Feb. 22 at McCall City y pp
Thursday, y to the city a piece of land along East proved by McCall voters last June. city
deal also hinges on whether
Hall. Members of the McCall City Lake Street on which now sits the By comparison, the value of the g
Council tentatively approved the building containing Century 21- Mill Park property that would be Manchester can get commercial zon-
trade last month, but state law re- Chisholm Realty. The land is a key acquired by Manchester is $60,000, ing for the parcel as well as the rest
quires a public hearing before the parcel for the lakefront park now be- according to an appraisal of the land of the old sawmill site. A hearing
trade can become final. ing planned by the city. ordered by the city and conducted by on that application is set for March
The city plans to trade to Alpine Insurance and Real Estate 6 before the McCall Planning and
Manchester about one -third of an Manchester, of San Diego, wants Appraisal of McCall last month. Zoning Commission. t
acre of city land along the shore of the burner site to increase the lake The council has set conditions on Also, the Idaho Department ( f
Payette Lake where the old Boise frontage for a lodge and meeting the swap. For example, the city can Parks and Recreation must approve
Cascade sawmill burner once stood. complex that he plans to build on dictate where Manchester will relo- the deal, since department funds
The land is adjacent to Mill Park, the old sawmill site adjacent to the cate the restrooms at Mill Park, were used to develop Mill Park 10
but none of the developed part of the parcel. which obscure the lake view from
years ago,
Hearing set on Manchester rezone
The McCall City Council will by San Diego developer Douglas Zonina Commission heard the ap-
lear public comments on April 26 Manchester to develop the site, plicat:�O:'n on March 6 and recom-
n a proposal to rezone the old which was the former home of a mendeld that the 14-acre site be re-
cCall sawmill site to allow a Boise Cascade Corp. sawmill that zoned for commercial development
odge and meeting center. closed 13 years ago. as requested by Manchester.
The public hearing is on a plan The McCall Planning and The only exception made by the
P&Z commission was to recom-
mend that several residential lots
owned by Manchester in the Sunset
Subdivision remain residential.
The recommendation came after
residents of the subdivision, located
north of the site, urged that a buffer
zone be maintained between the
proposed convention center and their
homes.
Manchester was represented at the
P&Z hearing by McCall attorney
Steve Millemann, who said that cur-
reni plans call for a guest lodge of
150 to 200 rooms on the old
sawmill site.
The development also would in-
clude meeting rooms for 300 to 400
people, a restaurant, small retail
shops, tennis courts, a public ice
skating rink and day-use boat slips.
No formal plans on the develop-
ment have been presented to the city
by Manchester, who also owns
Shore Lodge and has a vacation
home on Payette Lake.
McCall calls off hearing
on Manchester request
A hearing that had been set for
tonight on a proposal by San Diego
developer Douglas Manchester to
rezone land for a new hotel -
convention center on Payette Lake
has been cancelled.
The rezone request was to have
been heard before the McCall City
Council tonight, but city officials
discovered that not all surrounding
property owners were notified of the
rezone request, as required by law.
The error occurred with an outside
agency hired to research the notices,
City Administrator Bud Schmidt
said.
The request must now return to
the McCall Planning and Zoning
Commission for a new hearing
before going before the city council.
That new hearing has been set for
May 15.
Manchester has asked to have
rezoned 14 acres of lakefront land on
the site of the former Boise Cascade
Corp. sawmill to allow construction
of a hotel and meeting center.
At its first hearing held in March,
the P &Z approved rezoning the site
to commercial except for several
residential lots that commissioners
wanted left unchanged to provide a
buffer between the site and adjacent
Mmes.
0
McCall wants Manchester to commit
BY TOM GROTE "We need to have a decision made on
The Star -News
The time has come for developer the sawmill Site."
Douglas Manchester to make a
commitment to build a hotel -con-
vention center on the old Payette - -e.
Lake sawmill site, members of the McCall attorney Steve Mille -
McCall Urban Renewal Agency said mann, who represents Manchester,
last week. said he agreed and would seek to
The agency board, which is com- gain that commitment from his
posed of members of the McCall client.
City Council, made the statement as Manchester, of La Jolla, Calif.,
they continued to consider the scope purchased the 14 -acre parcel in
of a project to buy and redevelop the 1986. He has cleared the land, has
old Uniori Pacific Railroad right -of- applied for rezoning and is now trad-
way. ing with the city for a piece of Mill
At their meeting last Thursday, Park to provide more lake frontage.
board members got their first look Manchester has said he intends to
at how much in additional pro ?erty
taxes could be expected from devel-
opment of the area along and adja-
cent to the now - abandoned right -of-
way.
The bottom line of the discus-
sion was that any bonds issued to
buy the right -of -way could not be
paid back until a large development
was built on the sawmill property.
"We need to have a decision made
on the sawmill site," agency chair-
man Gary Van Komen said.
build a hotel and convention center
on the site, but so far no plans have
been submitted to the city and no
construction schedule has been of-
fered
Millemann said that, based on an
engineer's estimate, about $2.4 mil-
lion would be needed to buy the old
railroad land and to make improve-
ments such as a two -lane road, bike
paths and parking lots.
Under state law, those improve-
ments can be financed by issuing
bonds, which in turn would be paid
back with new property taxes gener-
ated from development.
However, the most optimistic
projection of growth would onlv
- Gary Van Komen
generate enough money to pay back
$1.5 million in bonds, Millemann
said. That assumed that Manch-
ester's project would be built, with a
figure of $9 million attached to it.
Millemann thought that fact pre-
sented a problem, but City Admin-
istrator Bud Schmidt said the city
likely could receive a $500,000 state
economic development grant, since
the acquisition would lead to the
formation of new jobs in the com-
munity.
On May 30, the McCall Trans-
portation Advisory Committee re-
newed their endorsement for a route
contained in the city's 1986 master
transportation plan. That route
would extend from Idaho 55 along
the entire length of the right -of -way
and connect with Lick Creek Road.
However, council members said
they might prefer a route that turned
off short of Lick Creek Road and in-
stead connected with Davis Avenue
near the Aspen Village condomini-
Also, the city could receive more ums.
funds to pay back the bonds by The new route would avoid
selling off land around the roadway putting a road close to existing con -
to private owners, one of whom dominiums and homes along the
could be Manchester himself, east end of the current right -of -way,
Schmidt said. board members said. Also, the new
The board still continued to wres- proposed route would end closer to
tle Thursday night with the bound- the new McCall Golf Course club -
aries for the proposed project and the house, which is being relocated this
routing of a new roadway. summer from Davis Avenue to a
new building on Reedy Lane.
Serving Idaho's Heartland
Thursday, July 5, 1990 14 Pages
Manchester unveils lake
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
Plans for a 150 -room lodge de-
signed to dominate the Payette Lake
shoreline into the next century was
unveiled this week by California de-
veloper Douglas Manchester.
Manchester on Monday showed
off plans for Payette Lake Lodge,
modeled after the great lodges of the
West, which would become the fo-
cus for conventions and tourism in
McCall.
Payette Lake Lodge, to be built
on the site of the former Boise Cas-
cade Corp. sawmill, would contain
between 114,000 and 120,000
square feet and would rise four sto-
ries above the lake.
The main features of the $12
million complex would include a
grand ballroom, dinner seating for
500 people and a multipurpose
pavilion that could handle large ex-
hibits or concerts.
The lodge also would feature a
year -round ice skating rink, tennis
courts, a swimming pool and a
small -scale "pitch- and - putt" golf
course for conventioneers.
Payette Lake Lodge would be the
culmination of more than three
years of planning since Manchester
purchased the 15 -acre sawmill prop-
erty in late 1986.
The lodge would work hand -in-
hand with Shore Lodge, which
Manchester purchased last year, to
attract statewide and regional con-
ventions that now by -pass McCall
because of lack of facilities, he said.
Manchester, chairman of Torrey
Enterprises of La Jolla, Calif., said
he believed the design of the lodge
would set the tone for future devel-
opment in McCall.
A—.
Artist's sketch shows how proposed Payette Lake Lodge would look wh
The soaring central tower and the
pointed gables of the proposed plan
are modeled after great lodges built
during the 1930s by the Work
Progress Administration, he said.
"We want a lodge concept instead
of a motel on the lake," he said.
"We don't want to build another
Shore Lodge."
The building is designed to be a
lasting edifice on the lake shore,
something that would be eligible in
later years to be placed on the Na-
tional Register of Historic Places,
he said.
Manchester showed his plans at
Shore Lodge on Monday to mem-
bers of the McCall City Council. In
order to build Payette Lake Lodg
Manchester must obtain from d
council variances to key portions
the city zoning law.
He will first ask for a waiver,
the city's height limit of 35 fe(
The main tower of the Payette Lal
Lodge would soar to 85 feet abo,
the lake. Also, Manchester wan
a, U
d Thursday, July S, rvo is Pages sam vear. NO. e7 47 cents
ester u
vei s lakefront lo, dge
li-7, .
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Artist's sketch shows how proposed Payette Lake Lodge would look when built Boise
on old Cascade
sawmill site.
The soaring central tower and the
Pointed gables of the proposed plan
The building is designed to be a
lasting edifice on the lake shore
order to build Payette Lake Lodge,
Manchester must from
permission to waive the city's re-
If all approvals can be received
are modeled after great lodges built
during the 1930s by the Work
something that would be eligible in
later years to be on the Na-
obtain the
council variances to key portions of
quirement that buildings be set back
at least 50 feet from the lake.
quickly, construction on the lodge
could begin next spring, with com-
Progress Administration, he said.
"We want a lodge concept instead
placed
tional Register of Historic Places,
he said.
the city zoning law.
He will first ask for a waiver of
A hearing on the .variances has
tentatively been set for Aug. 7 be-
pletion in a year or so, Manchester
said. The complex would employ
of a motel on the lake," he said.
"We don't want to build another
Shore
Manchester showed his plans at
Shore Lodge on Monday to mem-
the city's height limit of 35 feet.
The main tower of the Payette Lake
Lodge
fore the McCall Planning and Zon-
ing Commission. The city council
between 150 and 160 people.
City Administrator Bud Schmidt
Lodge."
bers of the McCall City Council. In
would soar to 85 feet above
the lake. Also, Manchester wants
would then hear the request some-
time in September.
p
said that one recommendation he
(See "Lodge," Page A -2)
Hearing set on Payette Lake Lodge
The public will get its first
chance Tuesday night to comment
on proposed plans by developer
Douglas Manchester to build a 150 -
room lodge on the shore of Payette
Lake.
The McCall Planning and Zon-
ing Commission will hold a public
hearing on a package of requests by
Manchester to allow him to build
the proposed Payette Lake Lodge on
the former site of the Boise Cascade
Corp. sawmill near downtown Mc-
Call.
..,m l,P heard by the
V[ner iic�T,; ..... 1. P &Z before Manchester's request,
which is scheduled for 9 p.m. Tues-
day at McCall City Hall, P &Z
Chairman Gary Enter said.
The P &Z will recommend to the
McCall City Council whether to
grant to Manchester variances and
special -use permit that the San
Diego developer says he needs to
make the proposed lodge work.
The matter automatically will go
to the city council for final consid-
eration no matter what the P &Z
recommends.
Manchester seeks a variance of
the city's height limit of 35 feet for
buildings. The top of the central
tower of the lodge would extend 85
feet into the air, according to pre-
liminary plans.
City law also bans development
within 50 feet of the shoreline of
Payette Lake, but Manchester wants
to be able to build the building right
up to the water line.
Also, the developer is seeking
special -use permits to allow parts of
the complex to be built on two lots
that are zoned residential. Manch-
ester previously asked the city to
have those lots rezoned to commer-
cial, but neighbors in the Sunset
Subdivision to the north objected,
saying a buffer was needed between
their homes and the lodge.
The permits would allow a part
of the lodge's north wing to be built
on one residential lot, while the
other lot would be used for part of a
"pitch- and -putt" golf course or a fu-
ture townhouse.
Manchester also is asking that a
piece of East Lake Street that ex-
tends into the project site be vacated
and turned over to him.
McCall attorney Steve Mille -
mann, who represents Manchester,
said that the requests being made by
Manchester are reasonable and
proper under city law.
"It is a unique piece of property,
and a unique project," Millemann
said. "That is why we have a vari-
ance chapter in the city code, to al-
low decision - makers to examine a
property for its unique characteris-
tics and determine if they want to
deviate from the code."
Millemann described the lodge as
"modest in its impact," because the
top of the lodge tower would still be
below the tree line at the rear of the
property.
"The important consideration is
that it is going to be an attractive,
high - quality structure," he said. "I'm
much more concerned that it is ar-
chitecturally handsome and consis-
tent with a mountain style than how
many feet from the water it is and
how high the peak of the roof is."
Plans call for the lodge to be
modeled after the great lodges of the
West, with high roof lines and
gabled windows. The building is
expected to contain between
114,000 and 120,000 square feet and
cost at least $12 million.
The complex would include a
grand ballroom, dinner seating for
500 people, and a 14,000 - square
foot multipurpose pavilion that
could handle large indoor concerts or
exhibits.
The lodge also would feature a
year -round ice -rink and a swimming
pool with retractable roof panels.
The lodge is planned to work in
concert with the 116 -room Shore
Lodge, which Manchester bought
last year, to attract larger conven-
tions that Shore Lodge cannot han-
dle by itself. If all approvals are re-
ceived, plans call for construction to
begin by next May.
While there are no guarantees
Manchester would build the lodge,
there is no reason to believe he
would not move forward, Mille -
mann said.
"He (Manchester) has a serious
intention to proceed," he said. "But
without these variances, the process
will not continue."
!-� rS¢ur /YP ass -
Cri*ti*cs rap, b
Im
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
Depending on who spoke at a
public hearing Tuesday night, the
proposed Payette Lake Lodge is ei-
ther a needed economic boon to
McCall or a sell -out by the city of
its development standards.
Nearly 100 people packed into a
sweltering hearing room at McCall
City Hall to listen and voice their
opinion on the 150 -room lodge and
meeting center proposed by San
Diego developer Douglas Manch-
ester.
The McCall Planning and Zoning
Commission heard 3 -1/2 hours of
testimony from about 30 people on
requests by Manchester to vary from
city standards and height and set-
backs to allow the 120,000 square -
foot lodge to be built.
At 12:30 a.m., commissioners
decided to recess and take up the
matter again Wednesday night. Re-
sults of those deliberations were not
available by press time.
No matter how the P &Z com-
mission voted, the matter will au-
tomatically end up before the Mc-
Call City Council, probably next
month, for final consideration.
Those speaking at the public
hearing Tuesday night were 3 -to -1
against the proposed variances. Sev-
eral of those speaking in opposition
said they would reconsider their
view if the lodge were forced to
comply with city standards.
Written comments, on the other
hand, ran 12 to eight in favor of the
lodge, which would occupy the
former Boise Cascade Corp. sawmill
site on the shore of Payette Lake.
Manchester is asking the city to
waive its 35 -foot height limitation
on buildings to allow the highest
point of the lodge to soar 85 feet
above the lake.
Also, a variance is being re-
quested of the city's mandatory 50-
foot setback from the lake shore to
allow a lakeside restaurant to be
built as part of the facility.
I I.) *X., I
In addition, special -use permits
are being sought to allow parts of
the complex to encroach on lots that
Manchester owns, but which are
zoned for residential use. Finally,
the application asks that an unused
part of East Lake Street be turned
over to Manchester.
In his staff report, McCall City
Administrator Bud Schmidt told
commissioners that Manchester
should be forced to buy a fire truck
with an extendable ladder that could
reach the top of the proposed lodge
in case of fire.
In addition, new water and sewer
lines, bike paths and street im-
provements should be built in the
area before the lodge is allowed to
open, Schmidt said. The work
should be done either by Manchester
or by the McCall Urban Redevel-
opment Agency, which is currently
considering such projects, he said.
Speaking for Manchester, McCall
attorney Steve Millemann told
commissioners that the lodge was
"the right project on the right site,"
and that the facility would be "a
tremendous and beautiful addition to
the city."
The lodge and the conventions it
would draw would help stabilize the
city's economy, which now is
overly dependent on the summer
visitor trade, Millemann said.
He defended the variance requests,
saying the project was a unique con-
cept that should be considered on its
own merits. Granting the variances
would set no legal precedents, he
said.
The lodge is far superior to other
uses that legally could be built on
the site, he said. As now zoned, an-
other developer could build 120 con-
dominiums on the site without even
the need for a public hearing, he
said.
Millemann did not say if
Schmidt's recommendation for a fire
truck was acceptable, saying only
that such a condition would be re-
viewed, if approved.
Opposition to the lodge came
from two camps, including those
with general concerns about the pro-
ject and those who live just north of
the site in Sunset Subdivision.
"I don't want to go out to my
driveway and look at a four -story
building," Sunset resident Troy
Smith said. The lodge is certain to
increase traffic and noise in the
neighborhood, Smith said.
Tom Gay of McCall said the de-
cision made by the P &Z and the
city council on this issue would af-
fect the future of the town. "We're
being told that if we don't rubber -
stamp this, we are going to lose it
forever," Gay said. "That's crazy."
Manchester should be willing to
negotiate with the city and citizens
to make accommodations and still
build a workable project, Gay said.
Judy Anderson of McCall said
that the city's requirements on set-
backs and height were there for good
reasons, and they should not be
easily given away. "We need to
drive hard bargains with developers,"
Anderson said.
Brian Smith said he shares his
time between McCall and Carson
City, Nev., where he has seen de-
velopment run rampant. "I don't
want another Lake Tahoe." Smith
said. "It has been destroyed because
of complexes like this."
Frances Ford of McCall said she
objected to the portrayal of Manch-
ester as "the Second Coming and the
saviour." Manchester is asking for
coo much in his variance requests,
Ford said.
"There is plenty of room here for
the man to make a beautiful build-
ing within the codes," she said.
Among those in favor of the pro-
ject, Jim Freeman of McCall said
the lodge would provide a needed
shot in the arm for the local econ-
omy. "It is a drastic error that we
have not fought for something like
this," Freeman said.
McCall Mall owner Scott Find-
lay said the lodge would help fill an
economic gap that has existed since
the Boise Cascade sawmill closed in
1977, and Dean Hagerman of Mc-
Call said the project would produce
"a leveling effect" on the local
economy.
7
Don't'vary laws for
BY PEGGY CLEMMER
This past week has been one of surprising po-
larization on the local political scene. Focus has
suddenly changed from the pathetic Valbois sce-
nario to the explosion over the alarming rumors
of the unreasonable actions now occurring due to
the variance requests of the new McCall devel-
oper from San Diego.
The McCall Planning and Zoning Commis-
sion met on Tues., Aug. 7, for a public hearing
in an overly crowded American Legion Hall to
allow the populace to express its overwhelming
fear and concern for what was happening here.
The fallacies, inaccuracies and shortcomings of
the plans were carefully submerged in the glib
presentation made by the attorney, instead of the
developer.
It soon became evident that there was a strong
group of opponents whose property would be
negatively impacted if the requested variances
Payette- lodge
were permitted to proceed. Nonetheless, on
Wednesday, Aug. 8, most of the same, large,
weary group, plus all of the P &Z commission-
ers, returned to attempt to hammer out appropri-
ate answers, by now a no -win proposition.
Prior to these meetings many events had oc-
curred to make it impossible to reach wise deci-
sions that night. To follow the law to the letter
was the only thing judicious to do. The statutes
call for no variance or special -use permit to be
granted unless a true hardship exists if it is not
granted. No such hardship exists and all six is-
sues should have been flatly denied to adhere to
law and protect the entire citizenry, especially
those residing in close proximity to the proposed
project.
From the attendance at those meetings and a
later inspection of the properties involved, I feel
the city council has no alternative but to meet on
Sept. 20 with their public hearing, conduct on-
site checks of the situation and a thorough review
of our existing laws, and see to it none of the re-
quested exceptions to the laws are even consid-
ered. Loyalty to your constituency is most im-
portant in this and other matters.
Now, there seems to be a most urgent need for
informing the public of illegal events which have
been building about this issue for some time. We
hope to have a series of articles published with
various pertinent facts of the matter available to
you in the next few weeks. If you are anxious to
help in such and join our coalition of frustration
and concern over local government, please volun-
teer by calling 634 -2927. We need to follow
diligently already existing law and properly
planned growth to protect us from the greed of
developers, attorneys and political power -
mongers.
(Peggy Clemmer is a McCall area
resident..)
7 — 0 Y/5
)7�0 Star - /Y(
,�/ �'/ �-r
P &Z pares back
Payette Lake Lodge flan
BY TOM GROTE
The Star -News
66If you change it for one, you will have
The proposed Payette Lake Lodge
could not be built with the restric-
to change it for many.
»
tions placed on it last week by the
- Rita Lyon
McCall Planning and Zoning
Commission, a spokesman for the
-
lodge's developer said.
extend onto one lot, and a "pitch-
thing that would wear out in ume.
The P &Z on Aug. 8 turned down
and -putt small -scale golf course is
"I have problems holding him
two of five requests by San Diego
planned the other lot.
hostage for a fire truck," Lyon said,
developer Douglas Manchester and
members quickly dispatched
who eventually voted with the
y
modified a third during its review of
those items, noting that they had
others to allow the height waiver.
the 150 -room Payette Lake Lodge.
y g
turned down a previous request by
. P &Z members then modified
Two requests, for a variance on
height and vacation of an unused
Manchester to rezone the lots for
commercial use. Neighbors in
Manchester's request to allow a
restaurant in the lodge to sit on the
city streets, were approved.
nearby Sunset Subdivision had
lakefront, which would require a
McCall Attorney Steve Mille-
protested the rezone.
waiver of the city's 50 -foot lake set -
mann, representing Manchester, said
on Monday that the P &Z's actions
We looked w this once and de-
cided we didn't want to do it," com-
back.
Members voted 3 -1 to require a
would not make the lodge feasible
missioner Tim Swanson said. We
15 -foot setback to ensure some pub -
15
as now designed.
need to push (the buildings) back."
access to walk across the beach
He said he would meet with
Manchester "to see if any accommo-
• The P &Z approved the request
to waive the city's 35 -foot limit on
in front of the property.
p y
This item provoked the most de-
Lyon
dations can be reached," but he re-
building height to allow the four-
bate of the evening, with
ushin for a full 50 -foot setback
mained convinced the original plan
was the best one.
story building to rise 85 feet high.
As part of the approval, however,
fpor the restaurant. She said that al-
The matter now goes before the
Manchester must buy a fire truck
lowing such a setback waiver would
set off a flurry of similar r would
applica-
City Council, which has
scheduled a public hearing on the
with extension ladders for the city,
members said.
tions from other lakefront property
application for 7 p.m. Thursday,
Sept. 20.
Commissioners heaped praise on
owners.
"If you change it for one, you
Council members said last week
the overall design of the building.
"A pitched roof is much more
will have to change it for many,"
she said.
that they wanted to meet in a large
harmonious and follows our objec-
At one point, Lyon moved to
meeting hall, either Shore Lodge or
McCall - Donnelly JCttool. An over-
fives," Chairman Gary Enter said.
"IIts a beautiful design, com-
t's "
table the matter, and the motion
passed on a 2 -to -1 vote, with Eck -
flow crowd of more than 100 people
missioner Bob Scoles said, noting
hardt abstaining. But Swanson
attended the P &Z hearing.
that the smokestack on the former
changed his mind and moved to
Here is a summary of the P &Z
Boise Cascade sawmill on the site
bring the matter back before the
action:
rose 80 feet into the air.
panel, and his motion passed.
• Members turned down requests
Commissioner Lance Eckhardt
"a
A motion to require the 15 -foot
for two special -use permits to ex-
agreed, saying the lodge would be
setback was then offered, with Lyon
tend parts of the lodge and conven-
tremendous asset."
being the lone dissenter.
tion center onto two lots that
Commissioner Rita Lyon
. Commissioners approved the
Manchester owns, but which are
protested the requirement for the fire
vacation of the extension of East
zoned residential.
truck, saying that Manchester would
Lake Street that extends from Sun -
A wing of the lodge would have
be forced, to spend money on some-
set Subdivision into the lodge site.
Hearing set
on Payette
The McCall City Council
tonight will air plans for the pro-
posed Payette Lake Lodge on
Payette Lake.
A public hearing is set for 7:30
p.m. tonight in the multipurpose
room at McCall - Donnelly Elemen-
tary School. The lodge plan is the
only item on the agenda of the spe-
cial city council meeting.
Council members will consider
the request of San Diego developer
Douglas Manchester for certain
waivers and requests to build the
150 -room Payette Lake Lodge on
the former site of the Boise Cascade
Corp. sawmill.
The site was previously zoned
commercial by the city to allow the
combination lodge and convention
center to be built, but Manchester
said he needs the variances for the
lodge to be a success_
The council will hear the rec-
ommendations of the McCall Plan-
ning and Zoning Commission that
were issued following a 3 -1/2 -hour
hearing on Aug. 7 that drew more
than 100 people. The public will
then be allowed to speak in favor or
against the proposal.
P &Z members recommended
against part of Manchester's request,
and Manchester has since accepted
some of those changes.
Manchester has said he hopes to
begin construction on the lodge next
spring, but he also said the project
may be delayed by several factors,
including worsening economic con-
ditions in the nation.
Here is a summary of Manch-
ester's requests to be heard tonight
and the P &Z action on them:
• Height Limit: Manchester
for tonight
.ake Lodge
has asked for a variance on the city's
35 -foot height limit so that the top
of the four -story lodge can rise up to
85 feet tall. The P &Z approved the
variance as long as Manchester
pledges to buy a fire truck with lad-
ders that could reach to the top of
the four -story building.
Manchester said he hoped he
wouldn't have to finance the fire
truck entirely, since the city would
use the truck for other purposes.
• Waterfront Setback:
Manchester also is asking for a vari-
ance from the city's 50 -foot setback
requirement from the Payette Lake
waterline. A restaurant had been
planned for the edge of the lake, but
P &Z members said the building
should be moved back 15 feet to al-
low public access to the beach.
Manchester has since agreed to that
change.
• Residential Lots: Manch-
ester also wanted special-use permits
to build on the residential lots that
he owns within the 15 -acre sawmill
parcel. Two lots toward the rear of
the site were proposed for part of a
small -scale golf course or guest cot-
tage, while a third lot fronting the
lake would be partly covered by a
swimming pool and health club.
P &Z members rejected the re-
quest on all three of the lots after
hearing complaints from residents of
Sunset Subdivision, which is adja-
cent to the sawmill site.
Manchester said he would accept
the P &Z recommendation on the
rear residential lots, but that the
lakefront lot was essential for the
project.
He said the lakefront lot slopes
down toward the lake, and that a line
of trees buffer the view from Sunset
Subdivision. Those factors should
soften the effect of the project on
nearby residents, he said.
• Street Vacation: Manch-
ester's final request is to have an ex-
tension of East Lake Street that
pokes into his property turned over
to him to allow development on it.
The city has the power to vacate
streets to surrounding property own-
ers, and the P &Z recommended
granting that request.
/ "r p k/ of Z_ Agps
flamed or if national economic con- enough details were known on the
o n e e s s i o n diti worsen. projects effect on sewer capacity,
"Your vote tonight will not as- fire protection, street access and
sure it," he told council members. taxes.
"It will give us the opportunity to To illustrate his point, Smith
ar the way continue the planning process." produced a scale model of the lodge
After public testimony, council and Sunset Subdivision that he
members debated whether to accept ordered made by an architect.
Manchester's request not to make The model showed how the lodge
him fully responsible for buying a would dominate the surrounding ar-
fire truck with ladders that could eas, noting that tiny spikes placed
for lake lodffereach the top of the lodge. near the large building represented
BY TOM GROTE
[be Star -News
The prosed Payette Lake Lodge
in McCall was given final approval
by the McCall City Council last
week after last- minute concessions
were offered by the project's devel-
)per.
Council members last Thursday
unanimously approved variances to
,ity laws to allow the 150 -room
.odge and convention center to be
)uilt. The approval was granted fol-
owing a three -hour public hearing
attended by about 175 people at the
McCall - Donnelly Elementary
"My commitment
to McCall is a real
one."
- Douglas
Manchester
ichool multipurpose room.
The lodge's developer, Douglas
Manchester of San Diego, Calif., at-
tended the hearing and agreed to two
hanges in his application that
leared the way for council approval.
Manchester agreed to drop his re-
uest to build part of a wing of the
roposed lodge on a lot that he
wns but which is zoned for residen-
ial uses.
Residents of Sunset Subdivision,
hich is adjacent to the lodge site,
rotested the encroachment so close
o their homes.
Manchester also agreed to change
is desire over how adequate fire
rotection would be provided to the
odge. Under the new agreement, the
ity and Manchester will agree on
e proper equipment that is needed,
nd the equipment will be delivered
fore construction begins.
Manchester made his concessions
uring the final deliberations by the
ity council following testimony by
wo dozen people. The speakers
ere evenly split over the lodge,
hich would occupy 15 acres on the
ormer site of the Boise Cascade
orp. sawmill.
In addition, about 30 letters were
Manchester wanted to negotiate six - foot -tall people.
received on the project, and senti- with the city, offering to pay his
Smith then produced drawings
ment in those letters ran 2 -to -1 in fair share in a deal reached before the
that depicted how the shadow of the
favor of the project, City Adminis- lodge opens.
lodge would be cast across Sunset
trator Bud Schmidt said. But Council President Bob Mc-
Subdivision during the winter.
Fire protection and the residential Carty was nervous about that offer,
One adjacent homeowner would
lot were the only issues of debate saying the city could be put into a
be in the shade three - quarters of the
among council members. No con- difficult position if no agreement
day during the winter because of the
cerns were expressed by council was reached as the building neared
hi, caidt nic . tights and
exhaust fans would further deterio-
members over Manchester's request completion.
rate the livability of the area, Smith
for variances on the city's limits on McCarty said that Manchester
height lakefront should the fire
said.
building and set- pay entire cost of a
back. truck since the lodge created the need
Debbie Staup of McCall agreed
Council members accepted the for the truck. He suggested that a
with Smith's urge for caution. „Don't let hindsight come back to
recommendations of the McCall rebate could be paid to Manchester if
haunt us,” Staup said.
Planning and Zoning Commission, another large project was proposed
Frances Ford of McCall said that
which last month approved an 85- elsewhere in the city.
the lodge project had potential, but
foot height limit on the lodge and a Manchester then relented, saying
a
that too many issues were not ad-
waterfront setback. he would agree to deal with the city
r great as
dressed. "If this project is
Manchester had originally wanted before construction begins. The
Manchester
it is purported t be, we hgre the
to place a restaurant in the lodge on matter of how much Manchester
time," Ford said.
the lakefront, but he accepted the should pay was left unresolved.
P &Z proposal. He earlier had On the issue of the residential
She dismissed comparisons by
dropped his request to build a mini - lot, Manchester withdrew his request
proponents of the lodge who noted
golf course or guest cottage on two after council member Gary Van
that the old sawmill was just as tall
other residential lots in the parcel Komen made a motion to send the
and massive as the proposed lodge.
after the P &Z turned down that bid. issue back to the P &Z with a rec-
"This was a totally different com-
Council members also quickly ommendation to rezone the lot to
munity in those days," Ford said. "It
approved vacating, or turning over, commercial.
is a red herring to compare the mill
an unused portion of East Lake Manchester previously had re-
to this project.'
Street within the project area tequested commercial zoning on the
Don Eberle of McCall rejected
Manchester. lot, but that request was rejected by
Manchester's statement that the
Manchester testified for his pro -the city. His latest request was for a
variances he requested would not set
ject last Thursday night, the first special -use permit to allow the
a precedent. "How can McCall then
time he has aoneared in any of thecommercial use on a residential
say no to an eight -story hotel or a
several hearings held so far on vari -zone.
restaurant on pilings ?" Eberle said.
ous components of the plan. But Van Komen said that city or-
Among supporters of the lodge,
Dressed in a suit, he turned at the dinances prohibit a hotel on a resi-
Denny Carlson of McCall said the
podium and faced the audience as he dential lot, even with a special use
complex had the potential to "round
described his desire to build a project permit. The parcel should be re-
out" the seasonal nature of McCall's
that all citizens will enjoy. zoned, he said.
economy.
"We're trying to create something At that point, Manchester raised
that is economically viable and en- his hand and withdrew his request,
Carlson, manager of Washington
vironmentally pleasing, Manch- saying he did not want to go
ester said. through another round of hearings.
Federal Saving and Loan Associa-
He.. his other activities in "Life's a compromise," Manch-
"You
tion, also criticized Smith's model,
, saying it did not depict trees Sun -
McCall, including the building ofester said after the hearing.
al ready
set Subdivision. Those trees already
his vacation home on Payette Lakework with what you have, so its
cast shadows the area, said.
and his purchase last year of Shoreback to the drawing board."
o
Dean de , owner of Home -
Lodge. During public testimony, the
Town Sports, noted that the lodge
Sports, n
"McCall is God's greatest gift,opposition was led by Troy Smith,
would increase the number of motel
and I hope to someday call it mya Boisean who owns a home in
rooms available in the city, a fact
permanent home," he said. "MySunset Subdivision.
that would help draw more skiers to
commitment to McCall is a real Smith related a theme of many of
Brundage Mountain Ski Area in the
one." those in opposition, which was to
winter.
Manchester repeated his previousurge the city council to go slowly
"We don't want to be another
statements that construction on thein considering the lodge and its full
Sun Valley, but we need a better
lodge might not begin next year ifimplications on the town.
economic climate," Hovdey said.
the Persian Gulf crisis becomes in This project has the potential to
Dean Hagerman, manager of
be a disaster," Smith said. Not
KMCL -FM, said local residents will
need the boost to the economy that
the lodge would bring. "Those who
do not have to make a living here
have a rather jaundiced view,"
Hagerman said.
Douglas Manchester addresses McCall City Council meeting last week as crowd watches.
Above, San Diego devel-
oper Douglas Manchester
testifies on behalf of his
Payette Lake Lodge dur-
ing a McCall City Council
hearing in September. At
right, artist's sketch shows
the proposed lodge, which
now will be set back 15
feet from the lake shore
rather than the lakefront
setting shown here.
l'
Lake lodge clears approvals
T/? 6 a #e, WS - /A /-�?7/ 9d
McCall-area residents got more
fireworks than they bargained for
during the week of the Fourth of
July, when San Diego developer
Douglas Manchester formally un-
veiled his grand plan for the
former Boise Cascade Corp.
sawmill site in McCall.
The Payette Lake Lodge envi-
sioned by Manchester would be
the most expensive and elaborate
construction project undertaken in
McCall since the sawmill that
once occupied the site was built
50 years ago.
In typical Manchester fashion,
the proposed lodge would be an
eye - popper that would immedi-
ately become the dominant build-
ing in town upon its completion.
Modeled after the great Depres-
sion -era lodges built by the Work
Progress Administration, the
lodge would be made of logs and
stone and be topped by soaring
gabled peaks.
The design envisions 150
rooms for guests plus enough
meeting space and amenities to
1
i
r
The Payette Lake Lodge plan
came just months after Manch-
ester completed a controversial
takeover of Shore Lodge, the 116 -
room mainstay of McCall's hospi-
tality industry.
Revelation of the lodge plan it-
self was due partly to increased
pressure by McCall city officials
for him to produce some tangible
evidence that he was committed to
building something on the
sawmill site.
Not surprisingly, to build
Payette Lake Lodge as planned by
Manchester would require some
concessions on the part of city of-
ficials on their limits on height
and setback from the shore of
Payette Lake. The plan called for
exceeding the city's 35 -foot height
limit by 50 feet and taking parts
of the building up to the water-
line, rather than staying back 50
feet, as required by city law.
Manchester also wanted to be
allowed to extend his buildings
onto three lots that he owns adja-
cent to the mill site, but which
were zoned residential.
Two hearings held on the mat-
ter produced the greatest attendance
by citizens of any other issue in
recent memory.
The matter first went to the
McCall Planning and Zoning
Commission on Aug. 7, where
100 people crowded a sweltering
hearing room at McCall City
Hall.
Opposition to the plan was
heavy, especially from residents of
the Sunset Subdivision, which is
immediately north of the proposed
lodge site. Residents there feared
the effect of the massive lodge on
their homes, both from additional
traffic as well as from the sheer
size of the building.
Other opponents voiced more
general concerns, saying the city
should not waiver from its zoning
rules to cater to Manchester's
needs because a dangerous prece-
dent might be set.
The lodge also had its backers,
however, and supporters touted its
e4 �2 of Z ? agt, s
potential effect of bringing growth
and stability to McCall's volatile,
seasonal economy.
After much debate, planning and
zoning members approved the
height waiver, but told Manchester
he would have to provide the city
with a fire truck with extension lad-
ders in order for firefighters to be
able to effectively fight a fire in the
lodge.
P &Z member pared back the lake
setback request from zero to 15 feet
to maintain public access to the
beach, and they rejected altogether
the request to encroach on the resi-
dentially zoned lots.
The P &Z action set up a poten-
tial showdown between Manchester
and the McCall City Council, who
had the final word on the project.
About 175 people showed up at
McCall - Donnelly Elementary
School on Sept. 20 to watch the ac-
tion.
But Manchester defused much of
the potential conflict a week earlier
when he announced that he would
accept the reduced lake setback and
the banning of development on two
of the three residential lots.
Also Manchester said he still
wanted permission to build on the
third lot, which was closest to the
lake, and he did not want to be held
responsible for buying a ladder truck
for the fire department.
Manchester appeared in person at
the city council meeting to repeat
his concerns, but council members
stood firm in the face of public tes-
timony. Finally, Manchester agreed
on the spot to drop his request to
build on the lakefront residential lot.
He also agreed to a change in the
condition on the tire trucK tnat now
says a fire truck will be in place be-
fore construction on the lodge
starts. The question of who would
pay for the truck was put off to an-
other day.
Manchester had hoped to start ex-
cavation work on the lodge by the
end of 1990, but snags developed. A
tangle of bureaucracy bogged down a
land trade between Manchester and
the city to give him an undeveloped
portion of Mill Park for the lodge.
State and federal approval of that
land trade is not expected until early
next year.
But Manchester said he also had
to gauge the effect on the project of
the generally worsening national
economy and the crisis to the Per-
sian Gulf.
By year's end, Manchester would
not predict when work would start
on Payette Lake Lodge, but he re-
peated his stand that he would re-
main committed to the plan and to
McCall.
Developer wants McCall to build
a center to accompany his hotel
The Associated Press
MCCALL — Developer
Douglas Manchester has
urged city officials to build a
convention center to go with
his planned hotel on the site
of an old McCall sawmill.
Officials say they need
more information. The Mc-
Call Urban Redevelopment
Agency's board said it will
study whether the proposal
makes sound fiscal sense and
will discuss it at an Oct. 13
meeting.
Manchester, whose compa-
ny, Manchester Resorts, is
headquartered in San Diego,
owns the sawmill site, Shore
Lodge, MeadowCreek Golf
and Field Club north of New
Meadows and 300 acres west
of Shore Lodge.
Since 1990, he's had city
approval to build a 150 -room
lodge on the sawmill proper-
ty. But two weeks ago, he
filed new plans, scrapping the
lodge in favor of subdividing
the 15 -acre parcel into 20 lots
for single - family homes.
In a letter to the redevelop-
ment agency, Manchester said
the hotel and a convention cen-
ter still could become a reality
if the city becomes a partner.
"Having looked at a variety
of different alternative pro-
grams and scenarios, I simply
cannot come up with one
which provides any prospect
of any reasonable return be-
ing earned on the capital in-
vestment," the letter said.
The proposal:
■ Manchester would
pledge to spend an estimated
$16 million to build the first
of three planned lodge build-
ings, called Millpark Lodge.
The first phase would include
130 rooms or suites, retail
shops, swimming pool, tennis
courts, lakeside restaurant
and marina.
Manchester would reserve
the right to build two more
lodge buildings, as needed,
containing an extra 200 rooms.
■ The city and redevelop-
ment center would find ways
to build a 20,000- square foot
conference facility, year -round
public ice - skating rink and a
floating boardwalk between
the lodge and Legacy Park.
Estimated cost is $4 million.
-7-71,o Loh Ya / /Py oGa �,,, lO %° % q3
McCall's Urban Renewal Board wants
information on Manchester proposal
MCCALL — Members of
McCall's Urban Renewal Board,
at the conclusion of a heated meet-
ing last Wednesday during which
the board came within one vote
of disbanding itself, voted to spend
up to $5,000 for a complete pack-
age of information about devel-
oper Doug Manchester's propos-
al to build a hotel on his Mill Park
property.
The meeting also included a
sometimes heated exchange
between Manchester's represen-
tative, McCall attorney Steve
Millemann, and several members
of the board.
Millemann asked the board to
amend its plan to make construc-
tion of a convention/meeting facil-
ity a top priority of the board.
Manchester has asked the city to
Pursue public funding for the meet-
ing facility and for an ice skating
rink, if that can be obtained, he'd
be willing to commit $14 million
to construct a resort/hotel that ini-
tially wouldhave 130 rooms, but
in later phases could be expand-
ed by another 100 or so rooms.
In the meantime, Manchester
is moving through the process of
gaining approval for a 20 -unit sin-
gle family development on the
property in the event he can't gain
city approval for the hotel project.
The public's portion of the pro-
ject would be paid for by tax incre-
mentbonds, whereby the revenue
to repay the bonds would come
from the increased property taxes
that result from additional devel-
opment in areas adjacent to the
hotel.
If things were to work out,
Millemann suggested that the board
could possibly afford about $4 mil-
lion in indebtedness, which could
potentially pay for construction of
the conference center and the ice
rink, and possibly even acquisi-
tion of the property needed for
later constriction of the boulevard
proposed for building on the aban-
doned railroad right of way.
Presently, construction of that
boulevard is the top priority of the
board.
But Manchester has determined
that without public help in build-
ing the conference center and the
ice rink, the project is not eco-
more
Millemann said that convention facilities are built
with public financing in other areas, Boise and Nampa
for two nearby examples. And in Boise, he said they
are still seeking someone to build an anchor hotel
downtown. The reverse is true in McCall, Manchester
is willing to commit to the hotel if the city will help
with the amenities.
But Campbell said Manchester's track record in
McCall doesn't weigh on the positive side, and he
pointed to the recent decision to close down the Shore
Lodge. That action, he said, meant cancellation of
a major snowmobile convention that was sched-
uled for McCall.
"Why should we hang our hat on a guy who uni-
laterally decides to cancel this sort of thing ?" he
asked. Organizers of that function have moved the
convention elsewhere in the state. In addition, it was
noted that a state 4 -H function was also cancelled
as a result of the decision to close for the shoulder
season.
Ed Elam, who manages,the Manchester Group's
Idaho operations, said that October, November,
December, April and May are loss months for the
hotel. He said the temporary closure was to lessen
the loss.
"We made a business decision knowing we had
groups on the books," he said. He said the groups
were offered alternative dates, and that efforts were
made to find other facilities in McCall for them.
When Shore Lodge announced the closures in a
news release, it was stated that the closure would
allow maintenance to take place without inconve-
niencing guests.
Campbell said he was concerned that the pub -
nomical. - licly- funded facilities, which Manchester has pro -
But if it isn't economically feasible for Manchester posed assuming management of, might be handled
to do the project, why should it be feasible for the in the same way.
public to finance it, board member Jim Campbell Millemann responded that the city would be in a
asked. position to require certain things through the nego-
tiated development agreements that would be required
to facilitate such a deal.
He said that without such a facility to anchor the
downtown, he said strip development outside of the
downtown core will almost surely result.
"You put an anchor project on that site, and there
aren't many better in the west, you're upping the
ante," he said.
Campbell wasn't alone in his skepticism of the
project. McCall Council member John Larson, who
sits on the board, and Realtor Don Clark were also
concerned with proceeding with Manchester's pro-
posal.
"My job keeps me out on the street and I get ham-
mered on this," Clark said.
At one point in the meeting Campbell and Larson
voted to dissolve the board, but were outvoted. Clark said the next
time the matter comes up, however, he may be siding with Campbell.
In the end, the board decided it wanted more detailed information
about the prospects of the project's success, . what would be required
in the way of public financing.
They voted to authorize spending up to $5,000 to have consultant
Harlan Mann develop new numbers about the project before their next
meeting, which was scheduled for 30 days after last Wednesday's
meeting.