Post Falls residents will have a short drive this summer to buy fresh harvested produce.

The Kootenai County commissioners voted unanimously on Thursday morning to approve Steve and Maureen Gobin's request to open a farmers market on Spokane Street, and even extended the requested operation time.

"I think it would be a great asset," said Commissioner Todd Tondee.

The commissioners voted to add two extra hours for the requested operation of the Spokane Street Market Place, which will run from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. The applicants had asked to open the market on Saturdays, but the commissioners deemed the market could also run on Sundays, from May to September.

"If business is good enough, more power to them," Commissioner Dan Green said after the vote at the county Administration Building to grant a special notice permit.

The market will be located on the five acres at 866 S. Spokane St., also the operation site for C Link computer company.

The Gobins, who own G and G Properties and C Link, said they hope the market will benefit the community.

"We're going to do children's workshops, teach them to farm," Maureen said. "We'll get elderly farmers to teach up and coming farmers."

Although the couple had initially proposed 30 to 60 craft and produce booths, they will set the maximum for 30 this year as a test.

"We've been having a lot of requests, the 30 will go pretty quick," Steve said, adding that the Gobins will hold a meeting for interested vendors and citizens at 7 p.m. next Wednesday at the site.

A handful of citizens showed up to laud the project, including Rebecca Carroll, a Spokane Street resident and school counselor who said farmers markets are an important way for families to access nutritious food.

Tom Lien, executive director of the Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency, said the community market would fit in well with the agency's plans to renovate Spokane Street.

"(The farmers market) will help encourage the development of new businesses along Spokane Street," Lien said.

The commissioners agreed to the applicants' proposal to increase their parking spaces from 25 to 70 on the property. The officials extended a previous variance on the property to allow the new parking to be seeded for grass, instead of paved.

Folks interested in the farmers market project, or helping to develop the five acres, can call Carroll at 277-8310.

The Post Falls Lions Club and the Post Falls Park and Recreation Department will also sponsor a farmers market in Post Falls beginning on June 17. The market will be on Sixth Street on Sunday mornings.

Although the Gobins have expressed that charging for market booths will help sustain their computer company that's been hit hard by the recession, Maureen emphasized that's not the chief goal.

"You're not going to get rich with 30 booths, charging $25," she said. "This is bigger than that."