The Rathdrum Planning and Zoning Commission will recommend approval of the Solara subdivision preliminary plat to City Council following a public hearing Wednesday night.

The preliminary plat calls for 436 residential and 21 industrial lots on the 157-acre Arestad property bordered by Boekel and Meyer roads.

Residential lot sizes will range from 6,500 to 12,920 square feet, with homes being built over a series of 10 phases.

Though the preliminary plat was shown to meet all criteria for approval, commission chair Nina Beesley raised questions about traffic mitigation during the hearing, calling it a “major concern.”

Beesley explained that she had looked into infrastructure improvement plans in neighboring cities, which city planner James Agidius warned could be considered an “ex-parte action.”

“Anybody in the public has a right to call the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organization and ask when these (projects) will be done,” Beesley said.

Agidius emphasized that applicant Hayden Homes had previously agreed to facilitate road improvements at intersections deemed “existing deficiencies,” including at Lancaster and Meyer roads.

“I showed you the criteria,” Agidius said. “Traffic is not one of them.”

Agidius also said that Hayden Homes will foot 10% of total improvement costs at the Lancaster and Meyer intersection.

Concerns over the city’s water supply were also addressed by public works director Chris Bain, who said the existing supply is sufficient to support the subdivision as it is proposed.

The city is “currently pumping 2 million gallons under (the) maximum pumping capacity,” according to Bain.

Some residents, however, were unconvinced.

Resident Brighette Mastropaolo shared during public comment that her home often lacks sufficient water pressure to shower at some points during the day.

“Being told by people that we don’t know what we’re talking about when we live it, day in and day out, is very frustrating,” Mastropaolo said.

Other residents encouraged commissioners to advocate for the public when presenting to City Council, as the project has seen significant community pushback in previous meetings.

“From the way things were handled with Hayden Homes, we all have a bad taste in our mouths,” said resident Lois Sales. “We deserve some consideration.”