Zones, roads, retirements at PF City Council
The Post Falls City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday for a zone change of two different lots owned by Idaho Veneer Co.
The lots were previously in heavy industrial zoning, used by Idaho Veneer for parking overflow and a log yard. The company feels it has no use for the lots. Now, one will be changed to Community Commercial Services zoning and the other will be changed to High Density Multi-Family, R-3, zoning.
This will encourage developers and businesses to buy the land instead of other industrial companies.
“We’ve got more land here than what we’re using,” said John Malloy, Idaho Veneer’s president and co-owner. “We think the city’s lifecycle and our lifecycle are such that development of a residential or commercial nature makes more sense for the community than more heavy industry in the city center.”
The zone change was approved at the last city council meeting April 19 and the ordinance passed unanimously Tuesday with Councilman Joe Malloy abstaining. He said he did not vote because his family owns Idaho Veneer and he used to work there.
“There isn’t any conflict of interest there, but to prevent the appearance of any, I abstained from the vote,” Joe Malloy said.
At the April 19 meeting, the city stated in a staff report that the zone change would not have a negative impact on the city’s transportation system or water reclamation facilities. It said a traffic impact analysis might be required before the site is developed.
People who spoke in April against the zone change were worried about the potential high density housing. Under R-3 zoning, as many as 400 apartments could be built on the 18.4 acres Idaho Veneer owns that are located behind the Post Falls Senior Center and west of the Beverage Barn and Fuke restaurant.
“But we don’t know what the future buyer would want to put in there,” said local land-use planner Rand Wichman, according to minutes from the April 19 meeting. “It would make sense to put a range of housing types there. I would fully expect as development activity happens a fence would be built.”
Positive aspects of the zone change are that more housing will support the growth of local businesses and it might help support an effort to put a traffic light at Fourth Avenue and Seltice Way.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the Post Falls City Council also gave the 2016 Asphalt Chip Seal and Fog Seal Placement contract to POE Asphalt.
Mayor Ron Jacobson asked Post Falls public works director Russ Cannote if there was any worry of quality control before city council passed it. There was a quality concern two years ago with the company contracted for the same job. Cannote confirmed that a consulting company was hired to assure quality control.
In other news, an economic development policy has been drafted to set guidelines and expectations for businesses moving to Post Falls.
“It’s so plain and simple. It delineates the duties of the city and the companies,” said Councilman Lynn Borders. “I think it’s an excellent resource and it lays out what they have access to and what they don’t.”
“I appreciated the fact that it’s not just focused on bringing new businesses to Post Falls, but on the businesses that are already here,” added Councilman Alan Wolfe. “I think that’s the area where we need to help those companies get bigger and stronger and I think that’s just as important.”
The council voiced no concerns with the most recent draft of the policy and will vote on its adoption at the next city council meeting May 17.
Mayor Jacobson also proclaimed May 2016 to be National Historic Preservation Month and next week, May 8 through May 14, to be Economic Development Week.
Tom Lien, director of the Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency, announced his resignation to the mayor after holding the position for more than seven years. He will retire June 10.