RATHDRUM - For the first time in more than three years, the city of Rathdrum is considering an annexation request of more than 30 acres.

The City Council tonight will consider whether to allow a proposal to annex 33.23 acres south of Lakeland High, east of Vera Street and west of Meyer Road to enter the formal annexation and public hearing process.

Steve Soltys of Inland Northwest Consultants, which represents the developer, said medium-density, single-family housing (7,500 square foot minimum lots) is planned for the site.

"The number of lots would be determined at the preliminary plat stage," said Soltys, who declined to say who the developer is. "Construction could start any time between this summer and next summer (depending on the approval process and other factors)."

The property, owned by the McGovern family, would be developed in phases, according to a city document. There are five public roads that end at the boundary of the property.

"As a condition of the future development of the subject property, the integration of these public roadways will be required," the city document states.

City staff recommends that the council allow the proposal to enter the public hearing process as the site is considered "infill" to the city and the proposal complies with the city's comprehensive plan.

The last time Rathdrum considered an annexation request of more than 30 acres was when it approved Viking Construction's 60-acre request at the northeast corner of Meyer and Highway 53 in October 2010.

* In other business, council members Paula Laws and Mark Worthen will be sworn in. They are both current council members who didn't draw a challenger during November's election.

The council is expected to re-appoint Cherry Heitstuman and Skippy Ducharm to the Cemetery Board and Carla Schelin to the Parks and Recreation Commission. Mayor Vic Holmes proposed that all three be re-appointed.

The council is also expected to tap the Hawley Troxell law firm for legal services for $135 per hour, the same rate that Mason and Stricklin charged last year.

Jerry Mason and Nancy Stricklin, previous partners at Mason and Stricklin, recently dissolved their firm and have joined Hawley Troxell. Stricklin plans to retire in three months and Mason intends to phase out his city practice over the next seven or eight months. John Cafferty is expected to represent the city in the future.

Conceptual plans to improve McCartney Street with new curbs, gutters and sidewalks this spring will also be considered. The corridor will be used for a historic walking tour of the downtown area. The project, expected to cost between $50,000 and $60,000, is almost ready to go out to bid.

Tonight's meeting starts at 6 at City Hall, 8047 W. Main St.