Rathdrum project an example of responsible growth

Rathdrum, like other growing North Idaho communities such as Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls and Hayden, is facing the challenge of more development coming to its doorstep.

As we all know, more homes lead to more people, who lead to more traffic, which leads to longer lines and bigger crowds pretty much everywhere. 

Few want that.

But curtailed development leads to stunted growth, which leads to economic slowdowns. 

Few want that.

While some would prefer things to stay as they are, perhaps even go back to the good old days before short-term rentals dominated blocks as they do today, growth is inevitable. Cities can't simply deny projects that meet their regulations because they don't want more people.

Like most, we would argue for planned, responsible development, which is why we agree with the Rathdrum Planning and Zoning Commission's decision to recommend approval of the Solara subdivision preliminary plat to City Council following a public hearing Wednesday night. This is a well-thought-out project that will help meet a demand for more homes.

The preliminary plat calls for 436 residential and 21 industrial lots on the 157-acre Arestad property bordered by Boekel and Meyer roads. Residential lot sizes will range from 6,500 to 12,920 square feet, with homes being built over a series of 10 phases. Roughly 5% of the homes will be considered workforce housing and priced as such.

This Hayden Homes project has long been in the planning stages and meets the criteria for approval, based on its preliminary plat. Hayden Homes, a strong supporter of the Miracle on Britton affordable housing project that has been a smashing success, has proven itself to be responsible.

We realize some in Rathdrum are not wild about a large, new subdivision but such developments like this on vacant land should not come as a surprise. Idaho is big on private property rights, and if the owners of the Arestad property want it to have homes, it most likely will. The best thing the city can do is monitor it closely so it does not have a sudden, negative impact. The density seems acceptable, with not quite three homes per acre. Some developments have up to five and six homes per acre. It is planned in 10 phases, which means it will come along slowly, so we won't wake up to a line of cars outside our front doors tomorrow.

While some raised concerns about the city's ability to support water for the development, Rathdrum public works director Chris Bain said the existing supply is sufficient to support the subdivision as it is proposed.

Continued growth is a certainty in Kootenai County. We know we are not telling you anything new when we say it has been discovered and people will keep coming here, whether we like it or not. The best we can do is demand that elected officials and staff review and monitor these projects closely.

Someday, perhaps, there will be no more land to build on. We'll find out then if that's good or bad.

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