RATHDRUM - A 33-acre Rathdrum annexation request that has drawn traffic concerns has the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation as it heads to the city council.

The commission on Wednesday night unanimously recommended the council approve the single-family proposal directly south of Lakeland High, east of Vera Street and west of Meyer Road.

"I see no reason that this shouldn't be annexed," said Darrell Rickard, a commissioner. "I feel pretty clear on it because it meets the criteria (for annexation and zoning) and the comprehensive plan."

The council is expected to consider the proposal April 8 after another public hearing.

While detailed plans for the property haven't surfaced - those will be brought forward when the subdivision plat is presented to both the planning commission and city council - about 125 homes could be built on the property. The vacant property, which is owned by the McGovern family, is planned for medium-density homes on lots of a minimum of 7,500 square feet.

About 65 residents attended last week's hearing on the proposal, in which public testimony was heard. Concerns included an increase in traffic in an area that already gets congested, small lot sizes and child and pedestrian safety around North Idaho STEM Charter Academy.

A petition signed by 117 residents in opposition to the request was submitted.

The planning commission made part of its recommendation be that traffic concerns be addressed as the project moves through the city process.

"(Traffic) was a major concern in just about every testimony," said Gail Hanninen, a commissioner. "It gets congested as it is, and this would only compound that."

The hearing was continued Wednesday after a public notice glitch discovered last week raised questions whether people were given the required 15-day notice to comment.

Wednesday's portion of the hearing, attended by about 30, included a rebuttal to public testimony from applicant Steve Soltys of Inland Northwest Consultants and the commission's deliberations.

Soltys said more homes will naturally increase traffic, but the additional streets that would be built in that area would also improve circulation, including from Vera to Meyer.

"There's a tradeoff," Soltys said.

Some residents asked that traffic signals at Highway 53 and Meyer be installed as part of the project if it's approved, to help soften the blow of the increase in traffic the subdivision will generate.

Others wondered if the property would be better served to expand Lakeland High in the future, but the school district said it's not interested in the property and supports the annexation proposal.

Commissioner David Kellner said the proposal will test the city's new comprehensive plan, which was developed after public input.

"It will be nice to see if the plan works as we think it will," he said. "We're all in this together."