COEUR d'ALENE — City councilors voted unanimously Tuesday night to annex a 1.9-acre property that could be developed into a four-lot subdivision.

The proposed "Mountainside at Canfield" subdivision, located at 2739 E. Thomas Lane will have residential lots averaging 0.35 acres each, similar in size to the lots on adjacent properties. The property owner is Aspen Homes.

"I know that probably a lot of people thought what was there before was kind of an eyesore," said Councilor Christie Wood. "This is definitely an improvement."

Wood expressed concerns about the soil on the property, which had been a scrap yard for decades.

Independent soil reports must accompany each building permit application, according to a report prepared by city staff, and Aspen Homes is required to coordinate with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality on an ongoing basis regarding future soil disturbance.

"We were concerned with it," associate planner Barbara Baker told the council. "The neighbors brought up their concerns. The owner was concerned. That's why we wanted to cover it thoroughly."

Councilor Kenny Gabriel was uneasy about the proposed subdivision's dead-end driveway.

"I know we do our best not to have dead ends," he said. "This is one where fire trucks get to back up instead of drive forward, which we don't doing like very much."

Baker said the driveway will have an approved fire apparatus turnaround so emergency vehicles can access the property if needed.

Jeremy Terzulli, a land use consultant for Olson Engineering, said the development of this proposed subdivision has been in the works for close to a year and that Tuesday's public hearing is the culmination of those efforts.

"What the general public doesn't always understand is that we've done a thorough analysis of this property," he said. "We believe in the project."

The City Council also unanimously approved establishing a 15-minute parking restriction at 108 Indiana Ave., in front of Beatific Behavioral Services.

Because the 100 block of Indiana Avenue has no time restrictions on parking, drivers often use all-day parking in the area, according to a city report. Beatific Behavioral Services asked the city to establish a parking restriction that would allow disabled clients arriving by bus to be dropped off at the front door.

    Gabriel