Annex request hearing is Tuesday

RATHDRUM - A 33-acre annexation request south of Lakeland High has drawn a lot of public testimony, and heads Tuesday to a public hearing with the Rathdrum City Council.

The meeting at City Hall starts at 6 p.m.

Inland Northwest Consultants, on behalf of the McGovern family, is proposing single-family housing for the site east of Vera Street and west of Meyer Road.

While detailed plans for the vacant property haven't surfaced - those will be brought forward when the subdivision plat is presented to both the planning commission and city council - about 125 homes could be built on the site. Medium-density homes on lots of a minimum of 7,500 square feet are proposed.

The property is surrounded by the school and homes within city limits.

The Planning and Zoning Commission in February unanimously recommended that the council approve the request, but with an amended motion that any traffic and pedestrian safety issues be addressed.

Those in opposition cited concerns about traffic and flooding the housing market.

"This is an outrage to those of us who have held on without getting our homes foreclosed," wrote Rathdrum resident Linda Currie. "This act will flood the Rathdrum housing market and create more gridlock to those of us who have been hanging on a long time to sell our existing homes. This is not the right timing to hit us hard again with excess home building."

Rathdrum resident Jean Gray wrote that an impact study should be completed to address traffic and safety concerns before the request is approved.

She also believes that less dense housing would be a better choice for the site, considering it would complement the surrounding neighborhoods better.

"That would provide for larger housing and less traffic," Gray wrote.

The North Idaho STEM Charter Academy is near the site.

A citizen petition with more than 100 signatures in opposition to the proposal was submitted to the city.

INC's Steve Soltys earlier said more homes will naturally increase traffic, but the additional streets that would be built in that area would also improve circulation, including from Vera to Meyer.

John Kearns, owner of the Lakeland Square business complex, is among those who support the request.

"Development in Rathdrum is needed in order to support economic growth, which adds to the economic well-being of all Rathdrum residents," he wrote. "The business community exists to serve the needs of consumers, and a growing population of consumers is needed to ensure business growth and economic prosperity for the city.

"I understand that traffic is a concern, but it can be addressed after this proposed rezone has been approved."

The Lakeland Joint School District is supportive of development on the property, citing a drop in enrollment in recent years and no desire to expand Lakeland High onto that site.

Proponents also say that the request meets the city's criteria for annexation and zoning, fits with the city's comprehensive plan and would be an "infill" development.

* In other business, the council will consider Mayor Vic Holmes' recommendation to appoint Bill Langendorfer to the Parks and Recreation Commission.