Powderhorn hearing postponed

COEUR d'ALENE - This campaign will be fought one front at a time.

Powderhorn Ranch LLC is freezing its pursuit of a zone change through Kootenai County, in response to a letter from the mayor of Harrison stating that the effort could disrupt the company's longtime negotiations to annex into the city.

"It is my belief that proceeding with your application at the county is a distraction to the city while we are conducting the important business of evaluating your application," Mayor Wanda Irish wrote in a Feb. 8 letter sent to both Powderhorn and the county Planning Department. "It would be my preference, as the Mayor of Harrison, if your application at the county could be put on hold until a decision can be made on your annexation to Harrison."

The Seattle-based company obliged, writing to the county on Feb. 11 to postpone this Thursday's examiner hearing indefinitely.

Powderhorn's letter acknowledged the additional costs to having the hearing rescheduled.

"After some discussion, we have decided to honor the city's request," wrote Rand Wichman, Powderhorn vice president.

The company has been working through both government levels to green-light a resort development on its 1,000 acres on Powderhorn Peninsula, which would include a 1,300-home gated community with multiple golf courses.

It has been negotiating to annex into the city of Harrison, which neighbors the Powderhorn acreage, for more than two years.

The project could also manifest if the county changes the Powderhorn zoning from agricultural to rural, which the company had tried initially a few years ago but was halted by a lawsuit up through 2009.

The county picked up the effort again last fall, in case the annexation wasn't successful.

The resort development has potential if the company continues to work with Harrison, Irish wrote in her letter, as the city Planning Commission has already recommended annexation.

A public hearing before the Harrison City Council has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Harrison City Hall.

"You have worked diligently toward annexation to Harrison for over two years now and have made much progress," Irish wrote.

Wichman and Irish couldn't be reached for comment.

Harrison City Council members also couldn't be reached or didn't wish to comment.