MY TURN: Responsible growth means keeping our promises

Coeur d’Alene is growing, and most of us understand that growth is inevitable. I am not opposed to new homes or new neighbors. In fact, well-planned growth can strengthen our community. But growth should never outpace the infrastructure and commitments that make neighborhoods safe, functional and livable.

That is why I support the appeal of the Coeur Terre Phase 2 subdivision.

This appeal is not about stopping development. It is about ensuring that development proceeds in the manner promised when the property was annexed into the city of Coeur d’Alene.

When the Development Agreement was approved, it established expectations for how Coeur Terre would connect to surrounding neighborhoods and how traffic, infrastructure and public safety would be addressed as the project moved forward. Those commitments were made to future residents of Coeur Terre and to the families already living nearby. Those commitments helped build public trust, and they deserve to be honored.

Residents in Northshire, Indian Meadows and neighboring communities already experience increasing traffic on Atlas Road, difficult left turns and limited pedestrian facilities. In several areas, sidewalks, bicycle facilities and safe crossings remain incomplete. These are not future concerns — they are today’s reality.

The appeal raises important questions that deserve careful consideration. Does the Traffic Impact Analysis accurately reflect foreseeable conditions? Will road improvements keep pace with development? Does the proposal satisfy the commitments contained in the Development Agreement, the city’s Comprehensive Plan and applicable subdivision standards?

These are reasonable questions. They are not obstacles to growth; they are the foundation of responsible planning.

Once a preliminary plat is approved, many opportunities to require meaningful improvements become much more limited. That makes this decision especially important. If infrastructure improvements are necessary to safely accommodate future growth, they should be identified and addressed before — not after — development proceeds.

Responsible growth means that roads, intersections, sidewalks, bicycle facilities and emergency access keep pace with development. It means protecting the quality of life of existing neighborhoods while creating safe, well-planned communities for future residents.

This appeal also presents an opportunity to reaffirm an important principle: Coeur d’Alene’s Development Agreements, Comprehensive Plan and subdivision standards should serve as meaningful guides for growth — not simply aspirations that can be set aside when they become inconvenient. Public confidence depends on knowing that the standards adopted by the city will be applied consistently and fairly.

As the City Council considers this appeal, I respectfully ask its members to carefully review the record and determine whether the project satisfies the commitments the city has made to its citizens. If the record shows those commitments have been met, the decision will stand on solid ground. If it reveals important gaps, then those issues should be addressed before additional development proceeds.

This is not a choice between growth and preservation. It is a choice between growth that gets ahead of infrastructure and growth that is planned responsibly. We can welcome new neighbors while also honoring the commitments that have guided our community for years.

Getting it right the first time benefits everyone — current residents, future homeowners, developers and the city itself. Good planning is not anti-growth. It is how we preserve the qualities that make Coeur d’Alene such a special place to live while preparing responsibly for the future.

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Tom Sanner is a Coeur d'Alene resident.