Annex request to be heard

A 234-acre annexation request west of Highway 41 between Prairie and Hayden avenues is moving on to the public hearing process.

The Post Falls City Council on Tuesday night, on a 3-2 vote, decided to allow the proposal by developers Prairie Crossing West and Prairie Crossing West II of Amity, Ore., to be heard.

The Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council will hold public hearings on the request, likely in the near future.

A representative for the developer said the applicant has no immediate plans to develop the site. The land is adjacent to a 67-acre site the city hopes to buy from the same developer for a future multi-use sports complex for $750,000. That sale will only be finalized if the annexation is approved.

Council members Ron Jacobson, Scott Grant and Linda Wilhelm voted to allow the annexation request to proceed, while Skip Hissong and Kerri Thoreson voted no. Betty Ann Henderson was absent.

The council debated whether the annexation would be a drag on city services and would impact pending limits on treated wastewater discharged to the Spokane River. However, supporters said the request is a logical extension of city boundaries and liked the fact it's a large block to allow for a cohesive community rather than sprawl.

The council in March unanimously voted to move ahead with tying up the property for the sports complex that would be paid with park impact fees.