Gozzer expansion on hold
KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 3 months AGO
Kaye Thornbrugh is a second-generation Kootenai County resident who has been with the Coeur d’Alene Press for six years. She primarily covers Kootenai County’s government, as well as law enforcement, the legal system and North Idaho College. | July 9, 2022 1:07 AM
COEUR d’ALENE — The expansion of a planned unit development owned by Gozzer Ranch Golf and Lake Club is reportedly on hold due to multiple county code violations.
Commissioners were poised on Thursday to sign an amendment that would add 28 acres already owned by the club to the existing PUD and use the area for a “spa and med facility.”
The expansion would bring the PUD to 692 acres total, without increasing density.
But Community Development Director David Callahan asked commissioners to hold off.
“We have learned that Gozzer Corporation is conducting a commercial spa out of a residential building that has not been finalized yet,” he said.
The spa reportedly violates both building code and land-use development code.
Callahan said it’s not possible to quickly convert the spa to meet code.
“They’ve amended the PUD, effectively, without authority,” he said.
Under Kootenai County’s land-use development code, the process can’t go forward until the violations are resolved.
“We don’t process cases that have code violations,” Callahan said.
The PUD expansion has been subject to criticism from some community members.
In March, 15 people opposed the expansion during a public hearing. No residents spoke in favor of the expansion.
At the March hearing, commissioners voted 2-1 to reject Gozzer’s request for a PUD expansion, then voted again during the same meeting to reverse the decision and approve it.
Commissioners voted a third time in June, upholding the approval.
ARTICLES BY KAYE THORNBRUGH
Stateline shooter pleads guilty to manslaughter
A DoorDash driver who fatally shot a pedestrian during a road rage incident near Stateline Speedway has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, though whether a judge will accept the pretrial settlement offer in the case remains to be seen.
Stateline shooter pleads guilty to manslaughter
Prosecutors originally charged Edsel Johnson with first-degree murder
A DoorDash driver who fatally shot a pedestrian during a road rage incident near Stateline Speedway has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, though whether a judge will accept the pretrial settlement offer in the case remains to be seen.
Kootenai County history revealed
Community members get close-up look at time capsule contents
Liz Boutin is no stranger to historical artifacts. A museum professional and fine artist, Boutin said she's handled Egyptian and Greek items that date back to antiquity. But she had a new experience this summer, after local historical preservationists retrieved a 100-year time capsule from inside the outer wall of the old Kootenai County courthouse.