PF: Subject to change

The Aug. 13 Press story on Steve Anthony was noteworthy because, of the four Post Falls City Council members seeking re-election this fall, Anthony was the only one who voted against the recent zone change for North Place East.

At the July 6 public hearing, Anthony acknowledged the people who bought homes in surrounding neighborhoods over the past 20 years. He said they “did their homework” and were told by the city that the adjacent, vacant property was zoned R-1 for single-family homes.

Despite Anthony’s comments, and despite overwhelming opposition from the public, council members Linda Wilhelm, Alan Wolfe (both up for re-election), and Lynn Borders, along with Mayor Ron Jacobson (also up for re-election), voted in favor of re-zoning NPE from R-1 to R-M Residential-Mixed, allowing apartment complexes and commercial buildings to be jammed in among single homes.

In 2019, Wilhelm voted against a proposed boardwalk along the Spokane River at Black Bay Park, saying she is “passionate” about that area. But she and other council members keep approving developments that impact areas where other people live, areas that other people are passionate about.

At the July 6 hearing, Mayor Jacobson implied there’d be limits to NPE’s proposed density and building heights, yet he admitted those plans are “subject to change.”

No wonder Post Falls has a reputation for supporting developers while neglecting its citizens. The city’s leadership is also “subject to change.” This November’s elections could be your chance to make that happen.

BRUCE KELLY

Post Falls