Three chapters of PF growth story

Growth and the vanishing North Idaho prairie is a story happening as we watch.

Not only is the open land disappearing rapidly, developers practice "bait and switch" with apparent approval of city staff/leaders. Take for example the April 27 Post Falls Planning Commission agenda items.

There are three public hearings. One is to totally re-work the Foxtail Master Plan. Approved years ago, the same developer proposing to build 4,500 homes on 1,050 acres on Huetter requests approval to change 1/3 of the approved plan from 201 homes and a small 48-unit apartment section to, if my interpretation of the obfuscating "notice" is correct, 12 acres of commercial (apartments allowed) and 716 apartments on the remaining portion of the plan area being altered. The 12 acres of commercial could easily be another 300 apartments by "right."

Consider the development staff touting the great new projects coming to Post Falls, including the shopping center at the northeast corner of Prairie and Highway 41. Planned to bring massive sales taxes to the city years ago, it is now not a shopping center, it is, at best, "Mixed Use" with one grocery store, bank, gas station, a few shops, and a fast food pad (2?) and 264 apartments (11 buildings of 24 units each).

Consider the hearing for 340 acres at the northeast corner of Pleasant View and Prairie, touted as great hope for industrial and jobs, needing tax help, surrounded on the east by unincorporated county land with large lots, with one tiny sign to 'notice' the public. The proposed zoning could allow massive numbers of apartments if the Developer took advantage of the enhancements of PUD's and the proposed zoning.

Consider the hearing for 12 acres along the river at Beck Avenue. Again high density residential request for 10 of the acres, with 2 as commercial.

Perhaps a new nickname for Post Falls, no longer "River City" now "Apartment City," or maybe "enjoy the slow ride." But that would be OK with at least some city officials as a recent project was the recipient of a no vote by one member due to it being "not dense enough."

The city's concern is not the current residents, it is those who want to come and developers' profits.

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Howard Burns is a Post Falls resident.