Post Falls settles flag flap

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — A large version of Old Glory — larger than what Post Falls' code has allowed in non-residential zones — will be flown at Fox Trailers after all.

The Post Falls City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation to amend the zoning code to allow for longer flagpoles and larger flags.

The amendment increases the maximum flag size in commercial and industrial areas from 135 square feet to 400 and the flag pole length from 45 feet to 70 feet.

Engineer Scott McArthur, who represented the Fox family, which recently opened a business on Pleasant View Road in the city, said he and the family were pleased with the city's response after the shock of having to go through the public hearing process to fly the American flag.

"They were surprised by this," McArthur told council members. "But the most important thing is that we wanted to get this resolved, which I believe we have."

Fox said he had his site engineered for the larger pole at the city's request only to be later be informed that the zoning code would need changed before the flag could be erected.

Councilman Alan Wolfe wondered why business owner Chad Fox couldn't have simply been issued a variance, but planning manager Jon Manley said the code didn't allow for a variance.

Manley said the circumstance with the large flag really wasn't unusual as new situations can arise from time to time that require a review or tweaking of the zoning code.

Mayor Ron Jacobson thanked city staff and the planning commission on working out a solution.

"It's nice to address this fairly quickly and let them move forward," he said.

Fox wants to fly a 375-square-foot American flag at the Pleasant View location that he has been flying at his Stateline business property. The increases will allow him to fly the flag properly at half staff.

Fox estimates he will have spent about $7,000 to fly the flag at his new location, including for engineering, equipment and the cost to apply for the zone change.

The amendment does not change the flag size limit in residential areas at 60 square feet with 30-foot-maximum poles.