BOISE, Idaho — This story originally appeared in The Idaho Press.
Over 100 people showed up to the Ada County Courthouse on Monday, when the City of Eagle’s decision to annex Avimor into its city limits went under judicial review.
But no decision was made, and residents may have to wait two more months for a verdict.
Courtroom 402 is one of the court’s smaller rooms, holding fewer than 85 people inside it, so most folks waited in the hallway just outside the courtroom, awaiting the pending decision. Among the over 50 Eagle residents who stood outside the courtroom, not allowed in due to the capacity limit, was former Eagle Mayor Stan Ridgeway and previous council member Charlie Baun, who was recently confirmed to be a member of Eagle’s new conservation advisory committee, which focuses on preserving open space.
Baun voted for the annexation of Avimor back in March 2023, when the council approved the annexation 3-1. Brad Pike, now mayor of Eagle, was the only council member who voted against the annexation.
As previously reported by the Idaho Press, the council’s decision resulted in a group called SOS Eagle filing petition for judicial review.
On Monday, Baun showed up to the court for the same reason everyone else did — to hear what the judge’s decision would be on the annexation.
But Judge Jonathan Medema opted to prolong the decision. After hearing arguments from both sides, Medema is anticipated to make a final decision on the annexation judicial review up to 60 days from now, SOS Eagle attorney Terri Pickens said.
SOS Eagle is a group that formed to “protect the quality of life for Eagle area residents by advocating for transparent, responsive, efficient, and fiscally responsible representation by local government leaders,” according to their website.
”We have a very knowledgeable judge. He’s going to make an informed decision. He’s very well prepared,” Pickens said.
After annexing Avimor into Eagle city limits, the city grew to include over 17,000 acres of land across three counties — Ada, Boise and Gem — over 8,000 dwelling units and 860,000 square feet of commercial and retail uses, according to SOS Eagle’s petition.
According to Pickens, the city of Eagle and Avimor’s biggest argument was that homeowners in Eagle don’t have the right to challenge the city council’s decision.
”I couldn’t disagree more,” Pickens said, shaking her head. “It shouldn’t have categorized it as a Category A annexation. ... They rubber-stamped an annexation that they didn’t have the authority to do.”
Avimor’s annexation made Avimor residents recipients of Eagle city services, which citizens expressed concern about, specifically in regard to land use, water supply, taxes and schools. Those concerns are also listed in the petition: “Eagle City Council abused its discretion when it ignored the additional impacts of the approval including but not limited to increased traffic, impact on air quality, water supply, conditional use permits, and increased costs and taxes for residents.”
”Nothing like this has ever happened in Idaho,” Jane Kramer, president of SOS Eagle, said.
Baun said he wasn’t surprised when SOS Eagle pulled together and brought their issues with the Avimor annexation to the courts. He and the other council members were aware of the organization’s efforts beginning in July 2023.
“It was expected. This is a part of the normal process. Anytime a city council finishes something, there’s a legal process. ... This one is highly polar so you’re going to have this,” Baun said, gesturing to everyone standing outside of the courtroom.
His hope, Baun said, is that whatever the judge decides will bring some closure to the city of Eagle.
The petitioners have asked for a reversal of the council’s annexation approval and a recovery of the petitioner’s attorney fees in this case and are also seeking annexation and rezoning from “planned community” to “planned development” for portions of the Avimor development. The general allegations of the petition are that the council’s approval of the annexation has “deprived Petitioners of their property rights.”
According to Kramer, Eagle residents also have concerns about connectivity and the lack of roads to Avimor, as well as various financial aspects the annexation brings to the table: things like an increase in Eagle residents’ taxes.
”The development does not pay for itself,” she said.
SOS Eagle has conducted several surveys, each coming to the same conclusion, Kramer said: the city’s residents are overwhelmingly opposed to the annexation. The Idaho Press reached out to Avimor General Manager Brad Pfannmuller for comment on Monday, but he declined to comment, saying that Avimor would comment once the judge’s decision was final.
This article originally appeared in the Idaho Press, read more on IdahoPress.com.
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