POST FALLS — Developers are proposing a large shopping mall on 44 acres at the northeast corner of Highway 41 and Prairie Avenue.

The Prairie Crossing Subdivision project is led by local engineer Jack Smetana with Frame & Smetana PA.

Jon Manley, city planning manager, will present the project at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The proposal calls for breaking up the 44.4 acres into 19 separate lots, ranging from about half an acre to 7.5 acres.

The 44 acres are agricultural but had been previously re-zoned for community commercial services.

CCS zoning allows for retail sales, professional use, service businesses and some manufacturing or technical uses.

“CCS allows for a full spectrum of commercial uses,” Manley said. “Some examples are fast food, strip malls, gas stations and wash bays.”

That type of zoning can include everything from nursing homes, to car rental companies, to nightclubs and event centers.

Designed as a regional center, the mall is expected to attract shoppers from outside the local area.

Regional shopping centers typically house several large anchor stores, surrounded by smaller shops and facilities.

Another 1-acre plot of land located at west Prairie Avenue between Greensferry and Cecil roads was approved for rezoning during the Aug. 3 City Council meeting.

Approval changed the area from R-2 zoning, which is medium density multi-family use, to CCS zoning.

The Green Meadows rezone is part of the larger, three-phase Green Meadows Subdivision.

“You’re going to see the evolution of various commercial projects along Prairie Avenue,” Manley said.

That fits in with city leaders' vision of attracting commercial development.

Mayor Ron Jacobson has been vocal about that vision.

“We will continue to work to attract businesses,” Jacobson said. “But again, we do not go out and try to attract residents.”

“If you look at it percentage-wise, there have been more businesses located in Post Falls than any other city in Kootenai County,” said Shelly Enderud, Post Falls city administrator.

Info:Postfallsidaho.org