Resident appeals condo project's approval
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 12 months AGO
Artist rendering courtesy city of Coeur d'Alene A proposal to build the Garden Lofts includes a 34-unit condominium building along with a structured parking garage and two five-unit townhome structures. This is a view from across the street.
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | December 31, 2022 1:06 AM
A Coeur d'Alene resident is appealing the city Design Review Commission's unanimous approval earlier this year of a four-story, 34-unit condominium with two five-unit townhouses between First and Second streets on Garden Avenue.
The appeal is going before the City Council at its 6 p.m. Tuesday meeting in the Library Community Room.
Jacklyn Doyle, who lives near the project site, cited eight reasons for her appeal. They include lack of a quorum at the Design Review Commission meeting Oct. 27; misrepresentation of the property lines to the commission; a mistake in the calculation of required parking; the lack of a snow easement; violation of the massing basic guideline for the infill overlay district; and failure to require 4% outdoor space for the tenants.
"The decision is not valid as there were only four members of the committee present," Doyle wrote in a Nov. 2 email to The Press. "It clearly states that a quorum for the purpose of rendering a decision shall be five members. They may hold a meeting with four members but cannot make a decision with only four. This will be appealed."
Garden Avenue Lofts and Town Homes is being proposed by 512 North 1st, LLC based in Denver. It would have outdoor decks, underground parking with 42 spaces, 27 one-bedroom units and seven two-bedroom units. It would be flanked by the duplex units, which will be 40-feet tall and would have private garages.
The property is a 33,000-square-foot, vacant lot, overgrown with weeds and brush, and is north of the Roosevelt Inn Bed and Breakfast.
The Design Review Commission approved the project on a 4-0 vote.
A staff report from Tami Stroud, associated planner, and Randy Adams, city attorney, recommends complete denial of the appeal.
"Staff recommends that council affirm the decision of the DRC in its entirety," the report states.
Regarding the alleged lack of quorum, the report states that the handout on the Design Review Process that says a quorum for the purpose of rendering a decision shall be five members "has not been updated to account for a code amendment which occurred in 2016. Ordinance No. 3537 was adopted May 3, 2016, and changed the quorum for the DRC from five members to four members.
"Four members of the DRC participated in this matter, the report says. "Therefore, the meeting met the current code requirement for a quorum and the appeal on this issue should be denied."
At the Oct. 27 meeting, Doyle and other residents expressed concern about the project's design, with large windows, terra cotta painted architectural panels, dark bronze painted steel and sandblasted concrete.
Doyle suggested the out-of-state developer be invited to visit and get a feel for the neighborhood.
“This development seems to be out of touch with my community, with my neighborhood,” she said.
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