COEUR d'ALENE - Although construction work has stalled on the foreclosed Black Rock North, there is still hope to hang on to materials to wrap up the luxury development.

Owners of a nearby surface mine used for the development's construction are requesting a permit extension, so mining activities can resume when building does.

"The development of that surface mine was partially completed, and then not all of the produced material was used, so they need to extend this until the development continues," said Kyle Capps, director of agronomy with the Golf Club at Black Rock.

The mine's property owners, BRN Development and Lautrec, LLC, believe the excavation and reclamation of the 32-acre surface mine are directly related to the completion of infrastructure improvements at Black Rock North, Capps said.

Much material for the development has already been stockpiled at the mine at Rockford Bay Road and Loffs Bay Road, said Capps, who submitted the permit extension request on behalf of BRN and Lautrec.

"Maybe two-thirds of what (material) was anticipated to be needed (is there)," Capps said, adding that he isn't sure of the total tonnage.

The crushed rock and gravel are planned for building pads and road bases, he added.

The materials have also been used to fulfill requirements for road improvements for the development.

"I think it's been a benefit for the community, with a reduced amount of traffic on local roads from trucks coming in and hauling gravel," Capps said, adding that materials from the mine were also used to develop The Club at Black Rock and the Black Rock Development. "There's been a lot of benefit to more than just developers in having that in close proximity."

Due to minimal market demand for residential units, only four of the planned 325 residential properties at Black Rock North have been platted.

The project is required to be completed by March, 1, 2017.

The applicant requested the surface mine's conditional use permit be extended until the same time.

The Kootenai County examiner will hold a public hearing on the request at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 21 in meeting room 1 at the county Administration Building.

Worley Highway District and Idaho Fish and Game had no comments on the mining activities.

Capps reported that dust at the mine has been minimized in the past with water applications. Erosion control measures are also in place on the site.

Black Rock Development settled on a foreclosure agreement on the Coeur d'Alene development late last month.

Capps didn't know when construction will continue on the 1,100 acre development.

"I don't think the foreclosure process is quite completed. I don't know what is scheduled at this point," he said. "I really don't know what the anticipation of the soon-to-be owners are."