Slow down on Coeur Terre annexation
There is no obligation to annex this property into Coeur d'Alene at this time. A project of this magnitude should not be done piece-meal, the 1,000 acres should be a total development, with everyone knowing what is going to happen on the whole property. Supposedly the portion of the property that is in the “Post Falls Sphere of Impact” is, according to the Post Falls City Manager, “on hold” until the Huetter Bypass alignment (or if it even happens) is resolved. Neither should the Coeur d'Alene portion be annexed until that is resolved.
There is, to anyone who watches traffic patterns, a significant issue with both north-south traffic movements and east-west traffic moving through the Cities of Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, Rathdrum, Athol and all the other areas that comprise the area north of Lake Coeur d'Alene and the Spokane River. If sewer service is ever provided to areas south of the river, then that area will become a significant contributor to traffic, too (keep it 5-acre minimums).
Huetter Road is almost the last opportunity to create a north-south corridor while at the same time relieving some of the east-west traffic constraints by adding another on/off ramp at Huetter. I-90 is already slated for a third lane in each direction based on current traffic demands but add 6,000 dwelling units, commercial and other assorted uses at Huetter and the need is immediately four lanes each way, not three and a ramp somewhere between Highway 41 and Ramsey/Northwest to avoid 5 mile long traffic backups if an accident is near the Highway 41 or Ramsey/Northwest Blvd. exits.
Many economists and prognosticators seem to believe a significant recession is either with us now or about to hit hard. Now is the time to plan carefully, figure out the whole 1,000-acre plan, at a density that is in keeping with the rest of our area. Huetter, Poleline, Huetter on/off ramps, four lanes either way on I-90 should all be either funded and under construction or actually completed before the first dwelling unit breaks ground.
Moreover, asking commercial users to rent or buy space in the proposed “CDA portion” of the project while there is no knowledge of how the ultimate build-out of the adjacent land is completed is asking for business failures. How much commercial will be placed on the Post Falls side?
There should be one comprehensive plan for the entire 1,000 acres with distinct timing for overall infrastructure completion prior to significant added residential units being constructed. Of course, at the county’s prairie aquifer density of one house per 5 acres, there is no issue … 1,000 acres / 5 = 200 homes.
Please do not annex this property into the city anytime in the near future. Insist that it be a fully planned project whether in conjunction with Post Falls or all in Coeur d'Alene but all of it. When it comes up for a vote the citizens should know about everything at maximum build out, no ability to change plans for higher densities or to add “PUD Overlays.” In addition, there should be requirements on any single-family and duplex/townhome portions to be restricted from rental use for some period of time as home ownership, not investor rentals, is the goal to create a community.
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Howard Burns is a Post Falls resident.