Post Falls city center parking planned
BRIAN WALKER/Press Post Falls is performing a pilot parking study on back-in angle parking on Frederick Street across from City Hall as part of its City Center Parking Plan.
Post Falls is seeking input on a parking plan for the city center. An open house will be on Aug. 2 at Q'emiln Park from 4:30 to 7 p.m. This photo shows existing angle parking on Fourth Avenue. (BRIAN WALKER/Press)
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — As Post Falls' city center is developed, future on-street parking needs are being identified.
The city and its consultant, Welch Comer Engineers, will hold the third and final open house on the City Center Parking Plan on Thursday from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Q'emiln Park in conjunction with the annual Community Picnic.
"We encourage people to engage in the process," said Rob Palus, Post Falls' assistant city engineer. "It's important for the planning team to understand the broader scope of what the people who live and work in the area see as the strengths and weaknesses of the plan."
Palus said the plan covers the area south of Interstate 90, east of Spokane Street to Idaho and north of the Spokane River.
On-street parking will be development-driven — as areas are developed, parking spots will be required — and all streets in the plan will have parking, Palus said.
"It's just a matter of whether it will be parallel or angle parking," Palus said.
The city is also exploring back-in angle parking with a study area on Frederick Street across from City Hall.
"We'd also like to get the public's feedback on that," Palus said.
The city doesn't have any funding identified for specific projects or timelines on when they'd move forward, he said.
A technical advisory committee of local leaders has also been working on the plan to identify parking, pedestrian and greenspace needs in the future.
"This is far more than a parking plan," Palus said, adding that sidewalk widths, landscape buffers, stormwater treatment areas and bike lanes are being incorporated. "Developing this plan successfully means balancing all of these factors."
Having the long-term plan in place will be a benefit as the city center develops, Palus said.
"We anticipate fully developing the city center and reducing our parking challenges will not happen overnight," he said. "It will take years, perhaps decades, to fully transform the city center into a downtown."
The open house was originally slated to be held at City Hall, but was moved to the park during the picnic.
"This will be an easy opportunity for citizens to see the updated plan and have an opportunity to comment on it," said Kit Hoffer, the city's public information officer.
The plan is available at www.postfallsidaho.org under "departments" and "engineering."