Planning Post Falls' future

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — Now is your chance to help raise Post Falls as your own.

The city is updating its comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance as a guide for the next 20 years. Citizen input is the key ingredient in that effort.

A "Studio in the Rotunda" will be set up at City Hall Monday through Wednesday next week for citizens to speak about what they like, don't like and would like to see in the future.

Jon Manley, the city's planning manager, said Post Falls is projected to grow from about 34,000 people today to more than 90,000 in 20 years.

The projection is based on historical growth trends and determined by the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Taking control

Manley said Post Falls' growth is inevitable, and now is the time to shape what that future growth will look like.

"We'll be seeing some more urban pressures, but at the same time there's hope of preserving that rural identity," Manley said. "The goal is to have a plan that matches what the community wants.

"This level of population growth in a relatively short time will require careful evaluation of the types of residential uses that will be demanded by future residents. We must also consider quality of life issues such as providing recreational opportunities, open space and an attractive community ..."

Attendees at the studio can also share their ideas by jotting down notes on maps or materials or filling out a questionnaire.

The studio, an open house format, will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Monday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. There will also be visioning workshops and activities from 6:30 to 8:30 each night. Public comments will be accepted throughout the studio and during the evenings for those who can't attend during daytime hours.

"We're going to the community, listening to the community and documenting its vision for the next 20 years based on public input," Manley said. "We'll do our best to be a steward of that."

Pam Stewart, who has lived in Post Falls for five years, said she's pleased to hear the city wants to listen to its residents about the future.

"I really hope that, as the prairie gets built out, locations for parks, schools and pedestrian pathways are in the mix," Stewart said while pumping gas on Tuesday. "Post Falls could also use more shopping and trendy, sit-down restaurant options."

Post Falls' last comprehensive plan was updated in 2010. Updates are recommended about every five years.

Additional visioning workshops will be held this summer on dates to be determined. The city council is expected to adopt the new plan in late fall after the public input phase.

Stakeholders, including business owners, community groups and professionals, were interviewed in November as part of the input process.

Then and now

The city is in a much different economic climate than it was seven years ago during the last plan update, Manley said. The recession still had its grips on the country in 2010, but the city is once again experiencing rapid growth. Housing projects hurt by the economy have been revived.

Multiple large housing projects, including Tullamore, Crown Point and Foxtail, were in their infancy or slowed by the economy in 2010. Those developments have since taken off.

The Highway 41 corridor is also expected to develop out to Prairie Avenue. The city center, which has received a recent spark with Post Falls Brewing and Roger's Ice Cream, is also destined to grow.

"We must develop growth strategies aimed at keeping the cost of city services and infrastructure repair affordable while still attracting high quality employers," Manley said.

Manley said one of the major changes expected for the comprehensive plan will be developing a single zoning code that's easier for residents and developers to understand and allows for some flexibility.

Most of Post Falls is zoned under a conventional zoning code, while newly annexed areas and the city center are under the Smart Code zoning.

How smart was it?

When the Smart Code was adopted in 2010, it was mandatory for all annexed properties greater than 10 acres. The condition has since been removed to allow applicants to have more planning options.

Manley said the Smart Code has been scrutinized by residents and developers.

"The initial intent was that there was some presumed flexibility with it, but upon implementation in some areas it was realized that it was not that flexible," Manley said.

"It hasn't been the most compatible code for single-family subdivisions in North Idaho. There have been developers here for years who developed a lot of great neighborhoods and the Smart Code required them to come up with new housing plans."

But the Smart Code also resulted in some attractive city center projects, including the Chamber of Commerce and brewery layouts, Manley said

"The Smart Code in the city center encouraged structures to be closer to the street with parking in the rear or on the street," Manley said.

The new zoning code, which is expected to be approved next spring, will likely combine parts of both existing codes into one.

"It will be much easier to implement with one code," Manley said.

Questions or comments can be directed to Manley at jmanley@postfallsidaho.org or by calling 457-3344.