Harvest Meadows housing development measure denied

POST FALLS — An application for the Harvest Meadows planned unit development and subdivision that would have added seven single-family homes to the original 85 fell short of approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday.

Planning and Zoning Commissioners Vicky Jo Carey, Kibbee Walton and Ross Schlotthauer voted yes while Commissioners James Steffensen, Bobby Wilhelm and Chris Schreiber voted no. The tie vote meant the application's denial.

Applicant Merle Van Houton spoke on behalf of the owner, Blackwell Homes and Development.  

Post Falls Planning Manager Jon Manley said the original concept that had come before the commission had two different applicants. 

Since then, the project had been adjusted to fit one vision rather than two for developing the land over 11.57 acres on R2 zoning into 92 single-family residential lots.  

The property sits between Guy Road and Spokane Street and is southwest of the intersection of North Brookie Drive and North Spokane Street. 

“We have a vision to bring affordable housing to this neighborhood,” Van Houton said.

Chairman James Steffensen said he saw both good and bad in the proposal, but stated that the conversation about affordable and attainable housing remains an unresolved definition in his mind.

"Who knows what really is affordable to anybody at this point?" Steffensen asked.

Several residents spoke against the proposal, with parking problems being cited repeatedly as a fear for both area neighbors and commissioners. 

Post Falls requires developers to provide two off-street parking stalls for each residence, which were included in the PUD. 

Blackwell said their intention was to provide 122 on-street parking spots and the residential roadway Tennessee Avenue was planned to connect to Spokane Street in phase one of the project. 

The motion included an amendment that common areas be completed before phase three of development.

Between the parcel of land originally coming before the commission the minimum lot size was reduced to 2,649 square feet. 

Wilhelm said when a version of the project originally appeared before the commission months before for what he calls “R2 light” he voted for it, but he was startled by the appearance of seven more houses and smaller lots in this project description. 

“What was the purpose of that meeting?” Wilhelm said. 

Van Houton argued “our sons and daughters who are looking to a place to move to are having a hard time” and that the project would facilitate ways for locals to stay in the area in comfortable housing. 

“The need is real,” Van Houton said. 

Resident William Guy opposed the change. He said the project had already come before planning and zoning and he felt the changes toward affordable housing with a $400,000 price tag might leave the area looking like “a trash heap.” 

“It's bad enough the way it is now, it should be left the way it is,” Guy said. 

Kristen Nelson said she was worried there will be no places for these cars to park and stated she didn’t buy property in Post Falls to live in this kind of neighborhood. 

“This is actually upsetting me so much I might consider moving out of the city of Post Falls,” Nelson said. 

Commissioner Carey made the motion to pass the PUD application and said the difference of seven homes shouldn’t make a major impact one way or another and that cottage homes are sometimes the only solution to meet the need for affordable housing in the area. 

“We just have to do the best we can,” Carey said.