COEUR d’ALENE — The Coeur d’Alene City Council by a 6-0 vote Tuesday deferred a decision on a proposed major development.

Coeur Terre will come back to the council at its Feb. 21 meeting.

That will give council members time to share their concerns about the project with city staff, who will discuss those concerns with developers to work out a new proposal.

Key points council members cited included no east side access to the development, the location of the two schools needed to be reviewed and the need for detailed traffic studies.

About 100 people packed the Library Community Room for the meeting that stretched out nearly six hours.

Most were residents of the adjacent Indian Meadows. One after the other, they outlined concerns that the project would adversely affect their homes in a multitude of ways because Appaloosa, Arrowhead and Nez Perce roads are marked as possible future connector roads.

They cited fears of increased traffic, widening and digging up of roads, loss of home values, and disruption of their quiet, friendly lifestyle. Indian Meadows was described as being home to towering trees, neighbors that look after each other, kids riding bikes or horses and wildlife passing through.

“They want to cram as much as they can into as little as they can,” said Lorelei Ruddick, Indian Meadows resident.

She called for lower density for the project.

“We’ve got one chance to do it right, so let’s do it,” Ruddick said.

Councilman Dan Gookin said he was not against development, but said Coeur Terre was incompatible with neighboring Indian Meadows and would have a negative impact on it.

The Kootenai County Land Company is planning Coeur Terre, which calls for about 2,000 housing units, businesses, shops and restaurants, 18 acres of parks, a greenbelt with water features, four miles of trails and land for two public schools.

The proposed 442-acre annexation and zoning change received unanimous approval from the Coeur d’Alene Planning Commission in October.

The property is north of Interstate 90 and West Woodside Avenue, south of the future West Hanley Avenue extension, east of North Huetter Road and west of North Buckskin Road, Lancaster Road, North Arthur Street and West Industrial Loop.

The vacant land is zoned agriculture-suburban. The request is for it to be incorporated to city limits with a mix of residential and commercial zoning designations.

Buildout is expected to be over 20 to 30 years. The entire project could eventually be more than 1,000 acres and have about 4,500 residences. The remaining acreage sits within Post Falls city limits.

Brad Marshall, senior project planner with JUB Engineers, said Coeur Terre has been 10 years in the works. He said it is in Coeur d’Alene’s area of city impact and will be phased in over 20 to 30 years.

Coeur Terre is estimated to provide 900 new jobs, generate $4.5 million in property and sales tax revenues and will be a total $2.5 billion investment over buildout.

Marshall several times reminded the council the request before them was for annexation and zone change. Future subdivisions within Coeur Terre would still go before the Planning Commission, he said.

Melissa Wells, Kootenai County Land Company president, said they are a local company with local employees.

“We pride ourselves on keeping business local and reinvesting back into the community,” she said.

Wells said they conducted extensive outreach, listened to public input and incorporated it into their designs. She said they held open houses and surveys, interviewed people and met with fire, police, health and education officials.

She said Coeur Terre meets many needs, including walkability, livability, variety and convenience. It would have 5% workforce housing.

Wells said the area is identified in the city’s comprehensive plan as suitable for growth.

At the buildout of Coeur Terre, it was estimated the city would need to hire another 15 police officers, build a fifth fire station, hire nine firefighters; and bring on more parks, water, wastewater, streets and planning staff.

Don Gardner, Indian Meadows resident, said there was the potential for 10,000 cars in Coeur Terre.

"We need to get more traffic information prior to this being approved," he said.

Another resident spoke of out-of-control growth.

"Please don’t destroy our neighborhood so they can build theirs," he said.

Debra Wilson urged the council to vote no.

She said developers and future Coeur Terre residents will not bear the burden of the project.

"Surrounding neighborhoods will be devastated," she said.

Marshall said Coeur Terre will help meet a need for more housing.

He said the project's proposed density is actually below what is allowed.

"The reality is, we all need a place to live,” he said.

Gabe Gallinger, civil engineer with the land company, said they would take public input into consideration.

Developers said traffic would be funneled west toward Huetter Road and north toward Hanley Avenue.

"We definitely intend on talking to the community more," he said, adding they would work toward "finding a solution for everybody."

"That’s our goal," Gallinger said.