Rathdrum annex request draws concerns

RATHDRUM - The Rathdrum City Council tonight will hold a public hearing on a 60.7-acre annexation request that has some neighbors outraged.

The site is north of Highway 53 and east of Meyer Road, and the applicants are Viking Construction and the Rathdrum Lions Club.

The Lions Club has its hall and ballfields on 9.5 acres at the southwest corner of the site. The remaining 30 acres along Highway 53 would be a combination of commercial (21.1 acres) and high-density or multi-family residential (8.8 acres). The northern 30 acres of the property would be suburban residential.

Scott Krajack of Viking has said now is the time to apply for annexation so construction will be ready when the economy improves. He said the subdivision could have roughly 100 single-family homes, but that's subject to demand and other factors. Building will likely begin in 2012.

Krajack said the site is optimal due to access to Highway 53.

Neighbors to the north, who have 5-acre lots, believe the subdivision will decrease property values, infringe on their rural lifestyles and cause safety issues involving animals and children.

Jim Bob Dugan, who lives near the site, said the proposal is not in the best interest of the community and not needed.

"We have hundreds of vacant lots and empty homes in the Rathdrum area as it is, and more become available all the time," he wrote to the city.

Krajack said Viking is willing to negotiate a buffer zone between the development and the existing parcels.

The Planning and Zoning Commission earlier voted 4-1 to recommend approval of the request.

Fence buffering between both the Lions property and rural homes to the north of the site is part of the conditions along with a traffic study. Viking would pay to pave Meyer north of Highway 53.

Detailed plans for the site such as street layout and greenspace will be submitted later if the annexation is approved. The site is just east of Pinegrove Cemetery.

The planning commission reviewed the proposal in December, but the Lions property was not included in the annexation request at that time.

In other business, the council will consider a resolution that would increase sewer rates 4.5 percent. The hike would bring Rathdrum's sewer base fee for 6,000 gallons to $39.65 on Nov. 1.

The increase would be passed along to Post Falls for system maintenance and operations, said Brett Boyer, city administrator. Post Falls treats Rathdrum's wastewater. Public hearings are not needed for rate increases of less than 5 percent.

Boyer said the increase was discussed during the budget process.

"We are not looking to adjust any other fees for the budget year," Boyer wrote in a memo to the council. "This increase is necessary to not fall further behind on operation costs."

The council will also consider whether to allow a request to annex 13 acres north of Park Rose Estates near Highway 53 and Meyer to enter the public hearing process.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 8047 W. Main St.