Coeur Terre is a go

COEUR d’ALENE — The Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday gave the green light to Coeur Terre, a major development on the outskirts of the city’s western edge.

“I got the impression these guys are straight shooters,” said Councilman Woody McEvers. “Hopefully they’ll step up and make us proud.”

It wasn’t a unanimous vote, sometimes an even heated debate, near the end of a public hearing that lasted about four hours.

Council members McEvers, Amy Evans, Kiki Miller and Dan English voted to approve the annexation of about 440 acres from county agriculture suburban to city residential and commercial, and to approve the annexation and development agreement for Coeur Terre.

Evans said the council must balance the needs of the broad community against the impact on surrounding neighborhoods.

She said the developers had made many concessions, “which is refreshing and encouraging to see that process.”

Council members Dan Gookin and Christie Wood both voted no.

Gookin said after listening to the passionate pleas of Indian Meadows residents that the development would adversely affect their neighborhood to the east, it was not a hard decision to oppose it.

“The rubber stamp of government has yes on it, it doesn’t have no,” he said.

Gookin first made a motion to deny the request without prejudice, and it was seconded by Wood. The other four council members voted no.

Wood said she liked the product of Coeur Terre and appreciated the trails, parks and future planning for schools, and that it would include 5% affordable housing.

But she said she wanted to deny it without prejudice and work with city staff to resolve the issues of Appaloosa and Nez Perce roads in Indian Meadows being used as connectors to Atlas Road from the development.

“What I can’t get past is the impact on the existing neighborhood,” she said.

About 100 people packed into the Library Community Room for the hearing and, one by one, citizens gave their opinions. Many lived in Indian Meadows and cited concerns of high density and traffic. They said vehicles would be passing through their now-quiet streets where kids play on a daily basis.

“It’s going to be an absolute mess,” said Sean Jackson, who lives on Buckskin Road.

Mike Bullard said most of Coeur d’Alene is southeast of the development.

“Most traffic will filter through the shortest route unless there is something else done,” he said.

Developers and others said Coeur Terre was well planned, provided much-needed housing and would have plenty of green space, even a buffer zone of 200 feet to shield Indian Meadows.

The Kootenai County Land Company is planning Coeur Terre, which calls for 2,800 housing units, businesses, shops and restaurants, 18 acres of parks, a greenbelt, 4 miles of trails and land for two public schools.

The vacant land is north of Interstate 90, south of the future West Hanley Avenue extension and east of Huetter Road.

Developers said there is sufficient water and sewer available, the land is in the city’s Area of City Impact and is physically suitable for what is proposed.

They also noted that housing in the development is 56% of what would be allowed under the zoning.

Buildout is expected to be over 20 to 30 years.

Residents were not convinced.

Lorelei Ruddick, who lives on Arrowhead Road, said running hundreds of cars throughout Indian Meadows was not right.

“Please do what is right,” she said.

Roger Ruddick said theirs is a “heritage neighborhood.”

“It’s the density of the development that causes my objections,” he said.

Gookin said Coeur Terre was too big and would have too much negative impact on neighborhoods. He said Huetter and Atlas roads were inadequate to handle the increase in traffic. He said the density should be reduced.

“What you’re talking about here is another city,” he said.

Wood said Coeur Terre was the largest development to come before the City Council. With groundbreaking at least a year out, she said there was time for more review.

“I want us to do it right and I want us to be considerate of our existing neighborhoods,” she said.

English said it was time to make a decision.

He said it was rare to have such a large piece of undeveloped property on the outskirts of the city. More housing is needed, he said.

“We need to have places where people at all price points can come in,” English said.

An upset Gookin said by approving the proposal, the council was sending a message to every neighborhood in town it was at risk if a developer comes in and wants to build something big and splashy.

“That is the message,” he said.

Miller disagreed.

She said it wasn’t an easy decision she was “heartbroken” for residents who would be impacted by traffic from the development.

But she added they must have realized the property just west of them would be developed.