PLANNING: High-rise anxiety
I was alarmed to read Roger Smith’s Guest Opinion (Nov. 24) about a developer seeking to double his Atlas Mill site land density from C-17 to a huge C-34. Smith warned that these 21 high-rise apartments (2,200 renters in 870 units) will add 6,000 more cars daily to our already horrible gridlock. Plus, some of these high-rises are near the riverfront, hence guaranteed to spoil views.
This is a sweetheart deal for the developer because, besides doubling his density (profit), he also gains the city’s railroad right-of-way. Yet the city, in this one-sided deal, gets a skinny, 40-foot riverfront easement and a smaller mill site parcel.
Even if the city votes against doubling the density that still means the developer adds 1,100 renters in 435 apartments, with an extra 3,000 cars a day, using our county’s inadequate roadways.
How to voice your concerns. Attend the public hearing (Dec. 11, 5:30 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Library Community Room), or send your comments to the City Clerk, Attn: Planning Commission at cityclerk@cdaid.org.
MORGAN VERNON
Coeur d’Alene