The Coeur d’Alene Planning and Zoning Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved a zone change request that will allow a day care facility that serves only Kootenai Health employees to expand. 

“This is again something we need in our community,” said Commissioner Lynn Fleming. “We need our hospital and we need our moms to be content to work and focus, so this is a good thing.” 

Commissioner Phil Ward agreed. He said day care is a primary need in the community. 

“The fact that someone is doing one, I just think is great. It's tied to their employees, even better,” he said. “I don’t like the fact they have to go to C-17 to do it, but I understand what the zoning is around there and I have no problem with it.” 

The zone change from R-12 to C-17L involves three parcels, about 1 acre total, at 417, 421 and 503 W. Emma Ave., which is surrounded by a mix of housing types and commercial properties. 

According to a city staff report, in 2015, Parkwood Business Properties, in partnership with Kootenai Health, acquired the former church building at 521 W. Emma Ave. and remodeled it into a day care facility.  

“This relocation and expansion of daycare services doubled the amount of child care slots that were available to serve the needs of Kootenai Health employees,” the report said. 

Over the last 10 years, Kootenai Health has continued to grow, with more than 4,000 employees and the waiting list of children for the day care has grown to over 150.  

“Many other child care facilities in our community were forced to shutter during the pandemic so preserving and expanding the remaining daycare providers is key to meeting the needs of our growing community,” the report said. 

Seeing this emerging need, Parkwood made strategic acquisitions of the three houses to the east of the day care facility to prepare for expansion, the report said.  

In 2019, Parkwood worked with the Idaho Transportation Department to install a signal at U.S. 95 and Emma to ease congestion in the medical corridor and provide improved pedestrian safety across Lincoln Way.  

Chris Meyer, partner at Parkwood Business Properties, said the site meets a few key criteria, including being walking distance to the hospital and offers plenty of outdoor space for kids to play.

The request for a re-zone “is to prepare for an eventual expansion of the adjacent Kootenai Health Daycare facility to better meet the needs of Kootenai Health employees.” 

“Trying to attract and retain employees through this child care benefit has been one of their competitive advantages over the years,” he said. 

Jeremy Evans, Kootenai Health CEO, in a letter of support, wrote “By allowing this zone change, the city will enable an expansion that directly benefits the healthcare workforce and, in turn, strengthens our community’s ability to support those who care for us.” 

There was one letter of opposition. 

“The area has already increased in traffic through the neighborhoods and newly built commercial properties have impacted the parking of the area for residents,” wrote Makena Cooney. “More commercial buildings tearing down old homes, taking up more street parking and increasing both noise and traffic in settled neighborhoods is not in the best interest of the people.” 

Fleming called on Parkwood to try and "soften" the project by doing such things as maintaining trees and being attentive to current residents and the future.

"I feel confident what you will eventually bring to this is a good solution for both the hospital and the community," she said.

Commissioner Mark Coppess said with impending growth, the zone change will fill a need by allowing the day care to expand. 

"What better opportunity than this in order to support a pretty critical need for a lot of our employees in the health care business,” he said.