Developer again looking at Canfield Mountain work

COEUR d'ALENE — Developer Marvin Erickson, through Mountain Crest Development LLC, notified the Idaho Department of Lands of planned forest operations that could include cutting trees and constructing roads on Canfield Mountain.

Emily Callihan, a spokeswoman for the department, said the agency issued Erickson a "Forest Practices Notification and Certificate of Compliance."

Neighbors privately told The Press they suspect Erickson plans to build roads and cut trees on the hillside facing Dalton Gardens and Coeur d'Alene.

Whatever he does, he must follow the Idaho Forest Practices Act rules, governing forest operations like logging, road building and maintenance, Callihan said.

The notification is for four parcels totaling 96 acres, she said. The property is the forested hillside east of the Copper Ridge housing development, north of E. Shadduck Lane. The road system in the property is known as Miners Loop.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forest is adjacent to the land.

"Oftentimes, a notification will cover parcels that are not all logged at the same time," Callihan said. "Our understanding is that (Erickson's) plan is to access the property off the end of Shadduck Lane and go over a city of Coeur d'Alene easement."

Work can be done until November 2017.

Ten years ago, Erickson faced public outcry because of his logging operations and road building on Canfield Mountain north of the current site. At that time, he sought to build homes in a development on the mountain. He lives on Erickson Drive on the mountain.

Scott L. Poorman, Erickson's attorney, said Wednesday he doesn't know what Erickson intends to do this time around.

The Department of Lands has jurisdiction on the work until Erickson files a site disturbance application with Kootenai County.

"IDL has jurisdiction over the forest operation activity, but the county has jurisdiction over the development activity," Callihan said.