A developer introduced to the Donnelly City Council on Monday his vision for a planned community that could double in area the size of the city.

Claude Gendreau of Chicago unveiled to the city council conceptual plans for The Glen to be built on 166 acres he owns north of town.

Gendreau, a veterinarian, was agreeable to the city annexing the currently undeveloped property.

He plans to develop the land into a full-time residential community, an idea he hit upon after talking to local people and those who know the housing needs of Valley County.

Gendreau expects to file his application with the city of Donnelly at the end of February, after which public hearings would be scheduled.

The "downtown" portion of The Glen calls for such items as a bank, theater, coop grocery store and 120-room hotel.

I realized that there were a lot of projects that catered to the rich and the superrich, but there wasn't anybody that was addressing the needs of the local people, the people that are going to make the community work," Gendreau said. "And I felt there was a niche for us to try to build a community of full-time residents, bring together the people that are going to make this area to function, to make it grow, that are going to provide the energy for the valley," he said.

Workforce Homes Envisioned Gendreau said he would be trying a different approach to creating homes for the local workforce, because he didn't regard other attempts as entirely successful.

The first phase of The Glen has already been drawn up and is the only part of the community with specifics laid out.

Phase 1, totaling about 20 acres, would have 63 residential units and 9,000 square feet of commercial space. Buildings would have three floors and could exceed the city's 35-foot height limit for structures.

Commercial space would be located on the first floor with residential space in the upper two floors.

Planners want the first floor to be 14 feet from floor to ceiling and each upper story to be 10 feet from floor to ceiling. With roof, the height would be pushed above 35 feet.

There was no estimate given for how many residential units would be proposed for the entire project.

Architectural design of The Glen would fit the themes predominant in the town and specified by city ordinance.

Density would be compact, said planner David Peugh of Epikos Land Planning and Architecture of McCall.

The greatest density represented by phase 1 of The Glen would be located adjacent to the city. The number of dwellings would thin out the further one got from that nucleus, and could include single-family lots, Peugh said. He guaranteed there would be open space in later phases.

Peugh emphasized the entire development is built upon the concept of sustainability, and that walking and biking would be encouraged as a primary means of transportation.

A 40-foot parking garage for residents' motor vehicles would be hidden within dwelling units.
All trails and recreational facilities at The Glen, including ball fields, indoor swimming pool and tennis courts, would be open to the public, developers said.