COEUR d'ALENE — Growing concerns that a Coeur d'Alene neighborhood, first developed in 1905, is losing its historical charm has led a group to push for code changes.

Located near Independence Point and City Park, the Fort Ground neighborhood is comprised of 119 homes and is listed as a National Historic District. However, recently built or remodeled homes that some feel have strayed from the historic roots of the neighborhood led Kevin Jester and other homeowners to protect the area from future development outside of historical standards.

"Change has occurred throughout the entire district," Jester said.

After completing an update to a 1992 survey of homes in the Fort Ground, Jester and a small group of homeowners identified a number of issues they would like the city to address through updates to city code. Among those issues, according to a report provided by the group, are establishing regulations for side walls to prevent "the construction of massive uniform side walls," prohibiting covered porches or decks within the setback zone at the front of homes, and adoption of a "lot coverage percentage" requirement to preserve a minimum amount of open space on lots.

The group has also asked the city to formally define the Fort Ground neighborhood as "an area bounded on the east by Park Drive, on the west by Hubbard Avenue, the south by West Lakeshore Drive, and the north by the centerline of the east/west alley between Empire and River avenues." After defining the boundaries of the neighborhood, the group has suggested the city create an overlay district where the special rules for development are applicable.

Councilman Dan Gookin, who lives in the Fort Ground neighborhood but did not participate in the survey, said he believes there are many cases where architects take advantage of current building ordinances when rebuilding or renovating homes. Some of the loopholes, as Gookin calls them, relate to open porches being able to encroach on current setback rules and berming up lots which make homes higher than what ordinances state because measurements are based on the foundation rather than sidewalk height.

"The consistency is getting chipped away slowly in the Fort Grounds," Gookin said.

Other homeowners in the Fort Ground neighborhood expressed their opinions to the council during its regular meeting on Nov. 15. Although resident Bob Dryer agreed a review of the code for homes is an important step, he expressed concerns at focusing the efforts entirely on the historic neighborhood.

"I don't want the Fort Grounds to be a Guinea pig for the entire city," Dryer said.

Bridget Hill, who has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years, told the council she has seen homes in the neighborhood change dramatically over the years in many ways she does not agree with. The neighborhood, she added, has historic charm and issues such as the height of rebuilt or new homes and maximization of lots by allowing front porches that stretch almost to the sidewalk are threatening that charm.

The next step in the potential development of new or updated ordinances, according to Mayor Steve Widmyer, is to reach out to the 119 homeowners in the neighborhood and encourage them to provide input at public workshops. Widmyer said the intent of the workshops will be to develop a solution that is positive for the entire area.