Post Falls council adopts housing assessment

POST FALLS — A citywide housing needs assessment was adopted unanimously at Tuesday's City Council meeting after a discussion about the future of housing in Post Falls. 

Mayor Ron Jacobson said the comments from the survey were extremely split toward either the need for more affordable housing options or to curtail apartments and building in general. 

The survey received 593 responses between mid-December and mid-January and additional responses were gathered Jan. 27 during a presentation by Robert O’Brien of Camoin Associates.   

“Post Falls is still an owner-occupied city,” O’Brien said.  

When it comes to rental strategies, Camoin Associates sought feedback on balancing new apartments with vacancy rates, allowing rentals in mixed-type neighborhoods and prioritizing affordable housing for seniors. 

City Councilor Samantha Steigleder asked O’Brien whether boomtown data used for future predictions may be less practical than more conservative numbers. 

City planning manager Jon Manley said that since 1990 in Post Falls nothing has been conservative when it comes to growth.   

“In 30 years, it’s been pretty aggressive growth,” Manley said. 

As land becomes less available, the city is likely to see a reduction in that growth rate.

City staff and officials said they need to be able to brainstorm strategies based on projections in order to anticipate the market and look at different ways to grow. 

O’Brien said population projections follow trends from the past and one of the most attractive qualities for those looking to relocate is that there is land and room to build.   

“We haven’t seen the market cool yet even if there’s some anticipation we will in the future,” O’Brien responded.  

Steigleder asked what would happen with the projections if Post Falls doesn’t stay on increasing population trajectory for the next decade plus. 

“Eventually, we become a different place than we were before,” Steigleder said. 

“We already have,” Jacobson responded.  

Weather events like the devastating fires in California are among the trends Camoin Associates has tracked for reasons to move to North Idaho, although O’Brien also noted an unusual local aspect to relocation. 

“Folks were saying they moved to Post Falls because they felt at home politically,” O’Brien said. 

Homeownership strategies included the possibility of exploring starter homes for affordability, diverse housing types and upkeep of older neighborhoods.

Community enhancements presented as options to residents included hosting retail and service centers in more places, balancing recreational assets with housing growth and meeting growth with proportionate careers and a downtown. 

    Samantha Steigleder, Aaron Plew, Joe Malloy and Ron Jacobson follow along with a presentation during the Post Falls City Council meeting Tuesday at city hall.
  

    Nathan Ziegler, Randy Westlund and Ryan Davis follow a presentation during Post Falls City Council Tuesday.