Atlas park plan takes shape
Dell Hatch gives a presentation about future Atlas waterfront and road concepts during a Coeur d'Alene Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Monday night at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library. (LOREN BENOIT/Press)
LOREN BENOIT/Press Attendees listen and watch a presentation by Dell Hatch on future concepts at Atlas Mill during a Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Monday night at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library. Concept plans included public spaces, walkways, dogs parks, and waterfront access.
By RALPH BARTHOLDT
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — Before planners could discuss a two-road option for the Atlas waterfront park at a Monday Park and Recreation Commission meeting, a dust-up over the lack of public notice had commissioners assuring the more than 45 people in attendance that the planning process will be transparent.
Bill Greenwood, Coeur d’Alene Parks and Recreation director said the public had 47 opportunities to watch the development of the Atlas park plan over the past few years including a series of meetings, press releases, and workshops, but a faux pas prevented Monday’s meeting from being publicized until around 2 p.m. the same day.
“There was a mistake made,” Greenwood said.
It wasn’t intentional, he said.
“We’re trying to get this plan out there, so folks can see it and comment on it,” Greenwood said. “I think we’re doing a good job of getting this out in front of the folks, but at the next meeting they have the chance to really dive in and make public comments.”
Coeur d’Alene resident Susie Snedeker said she was taken aback to hear of Monday’s Atlas meeting, because no notices had been posted.
“It’s not on the agenda. It wasn’t even on the website,” Snedeker said. “Public participation, as we know, is the most import thing the city offers … I really think the lack of notice is a real issue.”
Terry Godbout had the same concern. He had asked the city to post the agenda Monday morning, but it wasn’t until the afternoon that the agenda was posted with the wrong information, he said.
Parks and Rec commissioner Christie Wood said she wouldn’t mind doing the meeting over, since it wasn’t properly advertised.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to doing a repeat, just to address the mistake,” Wood said. “Obviously it was a mistake, but I wouldn’t mind doing it all over.”
Architect Dell Hatch of Bernardo|Wills presented two conceptual plans for the park site at the city-owned Atlas site that include access from west Suzanne Road and the possibility of another access point on the west end near Bellerive Lane.
One of the plans includes a one-way street with a loop, and the other plan has a two-lane street that follows the Spokane River to public beaches and parking planned for the strip of riverfront land south of the Centennial Trail and Tilford Lane.
Both plans require extensive retaining walls for the roadway and bicycle and walking path, Hatch said.
Commissioners said in the event of an emergency, police and fire crews could use the Centennial Trail to access most of the property, and they wondered if building roads to the beaches was necessary.
“I don’t want to spend a lot of money on pavement when we want to doll up the park,” Wood said.
The plan would also include a playground, one of the beaches would be a dog beach, and it would include a rest area, two parking lots, and a non-motorized launch.
Hatch said the conceptual drawings he presented Monday were only sketches and were subject to change with public input.
“Nothing is hard and fast, although the framework is pretty close,” he said. “… We can’t show you anything definitive at this point.”
The next public meeting — in which the community can provide input — is Feb. 25, Greenwood said.