Council: No multi-family buildings in Fort Grounds

COEUR d’ALENE — The Coeur d’Alene City Council voted 4-1 late Tuesday in favor of prohibiting multi-family housing in the Fort Grounds neighborhood.

During a five-hour council meeting that adjourned shortly after 11 p.m., council members heard from 39 Fort Grounds residents who mostly favored the restrictions.

Last year, the Fort Grounds Homeowners Association petitioned the city to modify the zoning to prevent multi-family housing in an effort to preserve the historic nature of neighborhood.

After listening to several hours of testimony, the council voted in favor of the request. Councilwoman Kiki Miller cast the dissenting vote.

“I didn’t feel this followed the intent of the comprehensive plan,” Miller said wednesday morning. “Their goal was to protect the historic nature of the neighborhood, but simply restricting property rights to single family homes didn’t do that.”