No rules bent for education corridor
On Sept. 3, 2010, Dan Gookin authored a column in the Cd'A Press wherein he stated that property taxes are increasing because the City Council "voted on Aug. 3 to bend the rules for their friends" when they approved the annexation of the former DeArmond mill site for the future Education Corridor. He stated that the City Council "voted unanimously to waive the fees" and replace them by some equivalent consideration.
The specific language of the fully executed annexation agreement states that the owner, the North Idaho College Foundation, will provide consideration in an amount equivalent to $216,495. The agreement further states that the parties anticipate that the fee will be satisfied with non-monetary consideration such as by property exchanges. In prior annexation agreements, it is not unusual for the City to exchange annexation fees for property that is beneficial for general public use (such as parkland) or for city operations (such as land for a fire station).
This particular annexation is no different. The agreement gives specific examples where property is identified for public gain including but not limited to riverfront property to extend the Centennial Trail, public access to the river, property to enhance wastewater treatment functions, and a landing pad for a pedestrian bridge across the river. In addition, the college has agreed to develop a master plan for the site and submit it to the City for approval. The plan must incorporate the following agreed upon principles:
Partnerships and collaboration: With a focus on higher education and existing community assets, development should include private-public partnerships and collaboration of the educational institutions and the City which will enable shared facilities, joint and individual programming, and public spaces to effectively meet diverse student and community needs and public access on the site. Connectivity: Development should include opportunities to ensure strong linkages between downtown, the riverfront, and adjacent residential and commercial neighborhoods. Development should improve pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular ingress and egress on Northwest Boulevard at key access points and through the campus to improve public safety and to connect the campus to the rest of the community.
Heritage, culture and public art: Development should include opportunities for public art and the protection, enhancement, and creation of public assets and opportunities, such as interpretative signage, which celebrate the past. Neighborhood protection: Development should respect the integrity and character of the adjacent residential neighborhood.
Density, parking and housing: Development within the corridor should always strive to optimize the infill capability of land assets to support the appropriate density of use (built form).Sustainability and integration of wastewater treatment plant: Development should consider options for sustainability including creative approaches to integrate the existing and future wastewater treatment plant functions into design as well as the academic curriculum.
Public access to waterfront: Development should include ample opportunities for the public to access and enjoy the waters edge including consideration for redevelopment of the former sawmill pier and dock and for a water feature using Wastewater Treatment Plant discharge water. View corridors and civic spaces: Development should include preservation and creation of important view corridors through careful design and placement of new buildings. Development should include connection of the corridor with Northwest Boulevard through landscaped entrances and frontage with a view connection to campus buildings.
These considerations will be finalized through the public planning process, and it is my opinion that the value gained by these public opportunities on riverfront property will far exceed $216,495.
Wendy Gabriel is Coeur d'Alene City Administrator.