MY TURN: Coeur Terre story didn't reflect project's potential impact

The article that mentions the appeal of the recent City of Cd'A Coeur Terre decision (Cd'A Press, Aug. 19) fails to give the reader proper information or, alternatively, actively tries to downplay the massive effect that this project will have on Cd'A/Post Falls/North Idaho. 

I will assume no ill intent but would request that in the future, and perhaps even a correction is issued, the Press detail the project in all its "glory" and that a map show the portion that is already in the city of Cd'A due to the city agreeing to the annexation.

Proper detailing of this "project" would, in my opinion, be the following:

The partially approved development of Coeur Terre the subject of hearing to modify a portion of the approved (2024) 400 acres specific plan that was granted when this acreage (440) was annexed into the city limits of Cd'A. 

The city became larger and the developer was granted rights for a project not to exceed 2,800 dwelling units, two school sites, a church site (since sold to LDS Church), two large commercial areas (shops/offices, etc), parks and trails. 

Getting annexed into the city meant the developer could have sewer and water provided by the city rather than retaining the ‘one home for 5 acres’ zoning of the county. The overall Coeur Terre project, on the land purchased by Lakeside companies, and still farmed to retain its agricultural tax breaks, is over 1,000 acres with 600 acres still in the county and in the city of Post Falls "sphere of influence" (typically meaning Post Falls will determine whether to accept a request for annexation and what zoning it receives). 

If the 600 acres receive a zoning equivalent to that given by the city of Cd'A, it could be surmised that the "approved" right to build 2,800 homes on 400 acres would equate to 7,000 (4,200+2,800) homes total. If we assume that no new school sites would be needed nor a new church site and the commercial needs would be met by the existing Cd'A approved project, the added 600 acres could easily approach another 6,000 dwelling units plus the 2,800 approved. 

Note that "dwelling units’ is a phrase for approvals including apartments, condominiums, tiny lot cottages, senior housing high rises and single-family homes. 

The approved specific plan for the 400 acres received a lot of citizen comment, most unfavorable, due to density, incompatibility with the area around it and traffic. Traffic was a major issue as moving the residents and customers east or west from the project was/is going to require major roadway improvements far beyond the project itself. 

In addition, there is no approved new "north/south" corridor, once referred by the name “Huetter Corridor." The approved portion of the plan moves traffic east through the Indian Meadows area to Atlas Road, but from there it goes where? For residents desiring to go west, the traffic has only one existing road in the middle of it: Mullan, which goes up the hill to the Highland Golf Course and down a rather steep hill to Highway 41.

Now, a Lakeside Companies entity has acquired the Highlands Ranch Golf Course. The Idaho Transportation Department and the cities in the area still debate the "north-south corridor," with "just" four of the 20-plus alternatives remaining as under consideration (ITD has whole section on the website on these remaining four).

Traffic studies without knowing the result of the efforts of develop the 600 acres and the golf course (?) property are without any factual basis, even if the project will take “20 or 30 years” to build out as per their spokesperson. Show us the traffic study using the density of the whole project at its desired by the developer total.

Transparency of planning going forward? Currently nonexistent, except for ITD’s "corridor" meetings (which, if the I-90 improvements through downtown Cd'A are an example, are actually already decided, just not approved until meetings happen to show "community involvement’). What is happening with the city of Post Falls “portion” and the likely rerouting of Mullan and a second western access other than Poleline? Are we to believe the developer is doing nothing? 

The spokesperson for the developer stated ‘several years working in close coordination with the city (of Cd'A) planning staff on the city’s long-term needs,' but the citizens were not asked about that portion of the project until it was almost on the agenda for a hearing. And the taxes currently assessed on the remaining 970 acres remain ridiculously low as it currently "active farmland" despite the developer being able to sell portions with approved zoning in the city of Cd'A rather than as one home per five-acre county zoning.

I suggest that the 600 acres on the west side of Huetter is a perfect location for the long-needed North Idaho Veterans Cemetery and acquisition prior to granting any development rights is the correct move. The approved portion (400 acres) is more than enough.

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Howard Burns is a resident of Post Falls.