Post Falls growth shows no easing
Photo courtesy of Neil Uhrig This photo taken by Kootenai County resident Neil Uhrig with his drone shows the Spokane River in Post Falls looking east. The wooded area on the right is part of the city’s community forest, which is being developed into trails and will be a land application site in the future.
BRIAN WALKER/Press Post Falls Mayor Ron Jacobson reflected on growth, city services and challenges during his annual State of the City address on Tuesday at Red Lion Templin’s Hotel.
By BRIAN WALKER
Staff Writer
POST FALLS — More rapid growth in Post Falls is expected — and 2018 has been a springboard to it.
The city issued 444 single-family residential permits this year through Oct. 31, surpassing the year-end totals of 366 last year and 343 in 2016.
During his annual State of the City address on Tuesday, Mayor Ron Jacobson said more of the same is expected in the future.
The Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization, a multi-agency regional transportation planning body, uses an annual growth rate of 4.8 percent to project future growth, while the Idaho Department of Labor projects a more modest 1.8 percent.
"(KMPOs) projection is that by the year 2040, the population of Post Falls will be 105,489," Jacobson said during the chamber of commerce's Connect4Lunch membership meeting at Red Lion Templin's Hotel attended by 170.
Post Falls' population is about 37,500 now.
Jacobson said city staff estimates that the level of growth KMPO predicts would result in a need for 25,627 more residential units, with 6,150 of those being multi-family units.
With the need for 19,477 new single-family homes, that equates to an average of 866 per year.
Jacobson, in his second term as mayor, said he believes Labor's prediction is more realistic.
"I don't see how we could grow at (the 4.8 percent) rate," he said.
Alison Roberts, of Windermere Realty, said that at a recent national real estate meeting, Idaho ranks at the top for the most desirable states to move to.
NOT JUST RESIDENTIAL
Commercial growth, including on the west side and in the Highway 41 corridor, is also expected to continue.
The City Council this fall created the 831-acre Post Falls Technology Urban Renewal District in the Highway 41 corridor.
The site includes a future 335-acre technology park on the west side of Highway 41 from Prairie to Hayden and a future 50-acre shopping center at the northeast corner of Highway 41 and Prairie.
"The developers, city and state have already received significant interest in the site from industry representatives," Jacobson said.
When Highway 41 from Post Falls to Rathdrum will be widened in 2020 and 2021, Jacobson said, the project will complement growth in the corridor.
With massive building, major planning efforts are underway by the city to manage the growth, Jacobson said.
The 2010 comprehensive plan is being updated and slated to be approved in early 2019.
OTHER INVESTMENT
The city completed a $14 million Phase 1 upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant last year to meet federal standards of discharging treated wastewater to the Spokane River. The city is currently re-evaluating its options for Phase 2, which could reach around $40 million.
"Staff's recommendation is that, if the funds are available, complete the project," Jacobson said. "It will be less expensive than building part now and part later.
"The improvements are being made to the plant to address both growth and the need to comply with EPA mandates."
The city received a $24 million Idaho Department of Environmental Quality loan to fund part of the project.
Jacobson said the 500-acre "community forest" that the city has purchased south of the Spokane River has proven to be a great partnership between the Wastewater Department, which will use the site for drip irrigation and land application in the future, and the Parks Department, which has developed public walking trails.
This winter will mark a new era of snow removal in Post Falls as snow gates that will reduce driveway berms will be employed.
While the operation will reduce residents' labor, the tradeoff will be that it will take longer to remove snow from the streets citywide.
"It will increase total plow time from 12 to 14 hours to around 24 to 30 hours," Jacobson said.
The city's snow berm removal program that has been available to seniors or those with disabilities in previous years will be eliminated since it is not sustainable with the recent growth and the new operation will be citywide.
KEEPING UP
Jacobson said he was proud that the city was able to keep pace with the demand for service without increasing taxes again this year for the ninth time in the past decade.
"New growth has carried us," he said.
In addition to the snow gates, the budget includes the incorporation of two victims advocate positions in the police department to the general fund that were previously grant-funded.
Jacobson said he was pleased to report the state veterans home project in Riverbend Commerce Park could be built by the end end of next year thanks to expedited funding. The project was originally projected to be built in the next five to 10 years.
Jacobson thanked city staff for pinch hitting as the city looked for a public works director, which was accepted by John Beacham, and community development director, which will be filled by Bob Seale in a few weeks. Another city leadership change this year occurred when Pat Knight took over as police chief to replace Scot Haug.
The city is proud to work with other cities, agencies and schools to improve the community, Jacobson said.
"Together we are successful," he said. "Together we are strong."