Drainage, Phasing & Density in Small-Town Idaho | Think Like a Developer MS#05

Sometimes development doesn’t come with a clean blueprint. Sometimes it comes with drainage issues, missing permits, and a one-woman building department. In this minisode, we’re back with Craig Parsons as he unpacks the messy middle of an inherited subdivision project in rural Idaho.From standing water to zoning strategy, Craig is figuring it out as he goes—talking to neighbors, walking the site with contractors, and meeting with county staff to untangle what’s possible. He’s navigating infrastructure costs, site phasing, and whether adjusting lot lines could allow for duplexes, triplexes—or even fourplexes. All while trying to keep the project affordable and livable.This is what local development really looks like: less polish, more persistence.👉 Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@LocalRealEstateDeveloper/playlists What You’ll Learn:Why drainage and earthwork insight from locals matters more than formal reportsWhat Craig learned from contractors about phasing underground work to reduce riskHow he’s thinking through ownership structure, product mix, and community fitWhy talking to the county (and your neighbors) early can unlock creative density solutionsWhat to know about zoning, lot size adjustments, and small-town commissioner dynamicsThis is how small towns get new housing: not with sweeping policy changes, but with locals asking smarter questions and pushing one project forward.If you loved this minisode and want more boots-on-the-ground stories from real people building in their own backyard—subscribe to the Local Real Estate Developers Podcast on YouTube, Apple, and Spotify.At Local Real Estate Developers (LRED), we’ve built the system we wish we had when we started. The Developer Operating System (Dev-OS) is our step-by-step project management software, built from nearly 20 years of actual development experience.We’ve been using this system behind the scenes for years. Now, we’re making it available to local developers like you, starting Q3 2025.No more chasing files across emails and spreadsheets. No more wondering what comes next. Just a clear, repeatable system to keep you moving.We are here to make sure locals get to decide what happens next in their communities.#LocalRealEstateDeveloper #ThinkLikeADeveloper #CommunityFirstDevelopment #RealEstateWithPurpose #GatekeepingEndsHere #SmallTownProjects #AffordableHousing #ZoningReform #RealEstateDevelopment