County embracing transitional housing

COEUR d'ALENE — Kootenai County has gone from no zones for transitional housing with a conditional-use permit to four in a month.

Commissioners, on a 2-1 vote on Thursday, approved adding light industrial and mining under that umbrella after approving commercial and high-density residential zones a month ago on the same vote.

The two latest zones were added because they weren’t under consideration during last month’s public hearing, and proper notification was required to allow the public time to comment.

Now, Commissioner Marc Eberlein, who dissented in each of the votes, wants transitional housing with a CUP to be considered in all zones in the county including rural, agricultural and agricultural suburban, not just the four approved.

"Prior to this meeting (on Thursday), I had requested that the Planning and Zoning Commission re-hear the countywide CUP version which it previously favored," he said. "In my opinion, that would better the chance of finding a suitable location."

The Planning and Zoning workshop is Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. at the county's Administration Building.

Eberlein said he opposed Thursday’s proposal because he believes it is a setup for failure as those zones are small and would force applicants to seek a CUP in areas that may not be suitable for the transitional housing.

The debate over where to allow for transitional housing comes amid Kaleidoscope Community Services plans for a nonprofit, faith-based tiny home village on 5 acres.

Gar Mickelson, Kaleidoscope’s executive director, said the nonprofit has secured three 5-acre site options for the "Pathfinder" village that would be leased for $1 a year. He declined to disclose those sites in the county, but has said one is in the Garwood area. Such details would be revealed during the CUP process.

Commissioners Chris Fillios and Bob Bingham voted for adding the two additional zones for transitional housing with a CUP. The decision supported county staff’s recommendation.

"It allows us to test the concept in a relatively contained manner to see if it works," Fillios said. "I also considered the fact that we have a shortage of permanent housing in our county. I’ve heard of other jurisdictions’ experiences with transitional housing and the generally questionable results, so I did not want to open the concept county-wide."

Three people spoke in opposition to Thursday’s proposal, three were neutral and one was in favor. The support has come from the belief that there is a need for transitional housing. Concerns have included the approvals could lead to several such CUP requests and that some zones are not appropriate for transitional housing.

The zones for transitional housing with a CUP are in the county only, not within city limits.