GROWTH: Too many K’s

Residents of Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, Rathdrum:

Do you know what the Comprehensive Plan of your city is planning for?

Facts, directly from the plans: Coeur d’Alene is planning to accommodate 85K people in the city limits in the next 15-20 years. Post Falls 103K people. Hayden 36K people. Rathdrum 20K people.

More than double, and in Post Falls almost triple, the current population.

Double the traffic, crowded schools, public places, recreation areas, stress on the sewer, infrastructure and services. Schools are already at, or over, capacity. How many new school buildings? The county is looking to build a $20M to $50M building. Roads need widening.

Who is going to pay for this? We know the answer: Current residents! How high will taxes, fees, bonds, levies, etc., go to pay for the schools, roads, sewers, emergency services?

And your current elected representatives have approved these comprehensive plans. They don’t tell you that no statute requires annexation and that they can manage growth and density with zoning. The cities are not required to plan to accommodate all who want to come here.

Start thinking about the November elections. Find and elect people who will slow this growth and density down. The election will be the most important and have the most impact on future growth ever. The direction can still be changed!

More than 18% of voters have to vote. Don’t be apathetic. Get involved! Otherwise, you will only have yourself to blame when you are sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

ED DePRIEST

Hayden