The city is clearly not ready for a development of this size, because the city has never planned for a development of this size and constant urbanization is in direct conflict with the rural nature of our area, and specifically our roads.

Council members have weighed in supporting the concerns of the residents of Indian Meadows and surrounding neighborhoods regarding traffic, safety and density but they continue to put the responsibility on the developer. The developer has met with residents to listen to their concerns. It is my opinion that the developer might not be the main issue here, but the Coeur d’Alene Planning Department instead.

Developers are not terribly concerned about how future residents get to and from their homes. As it stands, the City Administration and Planning Department are the real adversaries here. The city administrator pushes for higher density to increase property tax revenue. The city planning department is pushing for east access to and from Atlas Road for “public safety.” Residents of Indian Meadows and beyond have repeatedly told council and planning department (as well as planning commission) their concerns that having neighborhood roads connecting to this high density development IS a matter of public safety in itself. So, in the name of public safety, council should deny the Kootenai Land Company’s application for zoning and annexation and the development agreement as it stands.

Whose public safety is a concern here? Maslow said in his Hierarchy of Human Needs that to function as a society physical safety, with public safety included, as well as safety when it comes to health, money, possessions and family is needed. Perhaps the public safety of current residents should be a consideration.

SUZANNE KNUTSON

Coeur d’Alene, Indian Meadows