Economist says planned M3 Eagle will generate money to pay for services 

Taxes and impact fees from M3 Eagle, a planned community proposed north of Eagle, would more than pay for government services required by the community, according to economist John Church.
Over 20 years the city of Eagle is likely to collect a net surplus of $36 million in taxes from M3 residents, said Church, who spoke last week at an Eagle Planning & Zoning Commission hearing.
The Meridian School District would collect a $227 million surplus during the same time period, and the Eagle Fire District would collect $23 million more in taxes than it would provide in services to M3.
Church calculated the costs of providing services by comparing the cost-per-person for city services in similar Idaho cities.
After 20 years, Ada County would net $55.6 million a year from M3, emergency medical services would net $2.8 million a year and the Ada County Highway District would net $71.4 million a year, he said.
At the same meeting, M3 Companies Partner Bill Brownlee told commissioners about his plans for the 12,000-home planned community, which would be built over a 20-year period. The developers plan to dedicate 800 acres of land for a regional park, which, when combined with nearly 2,000 acres of Bureau of Land Management land, would be larger than Eagle Island State Park and three other area parks combined.
Only two Eagle citizens testified at the hearing.
Bob Harmon said he’s been impressed by the developers’ plans and by how responsive M3 Companies has been to concerns about water, traffic and wildlife habitat.
He also urged the commission not to apply a one-size-fits-all plan to development in the Foothills.
Barb Jekel opposed the zoning change that’s been requested by M3 Eagle. The original designation calls for one unit per 40 acres, she said. Jekel said she didn’t see why M3 couldn’t derive a profit from building just 150 homes on its 6,000 acres, or by using the land for other rural uses, such as wineries, organic farms and xeriscape nurseries.
The commission decided to continue the meeting on Dec. 11 because Eagle city employees were unable to provide traffic impact studies, geotechnical and drainage studies and other data the commission needed to reach a decision.

What’s planned

6,005
Acres in planned community

2,715
Acres in regional park

12,000
Residential units

29,000
Overall population

13
Schools

2
Fire stations

1
Police station

2
Golf courses

1
Equestrian center

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