COEUR TERRE: March Madness

Tune in for half of a basketball game being played over land under county jurisdiction. In this so-called contest, the visiting team (comprised of a developer in a seemingly cozy relationship with the planning department) runs a steady ‘zone’ offense and the Home Team (concerned citizens) is kept mostly on the sideline. After being forced to watch another commercial about the awesomeness of high-density development, continue watching as the visiting team is allowed to take another trip to the free-throw line when someone on the Home Team is fouled.

Residents of Coeur d’Alene were silenced while public testimony remained closed in the Feb. 21 City Council meeting, as changes made to the zoning and development agreement were presented to City Council. Sorry, Home Team, it’s just a half-time show where real due process requires adjustment to ensure that the visiting team won’t lose its investment in squeaky new shoes and sparkly uniforms and that the city doesn’t risk losing the sole corporate sponsor of the new Coeur Terror Dome. Where are the refs to ensure a fair game? How many technical fouls have gone unaddressed?

The Coeur Terre project was first introduced to City Council on June 2, 2020. But it took time to ensure that the ball would only fit in the hands of a few players, so a very different plan was brought to the City Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 11, 2022. Has the annexation and zoning process been set up as a one-sided game?

ROB KNUTSON

Coeur d’Alene