Update: After press time Thursday night, Kootenai County Commissioners Dan Green and Marc Eberlein voted to deny the zone-change request sought by Mort Construction for the 34 acres. Commission Chairman David Steward abstained. The hearing ended at 11:20 p.m.

Kootenai County commissioners heard more than four hours of public testimony Thursday night on a contractor's controversial zone-change request for 34 acres near Athol. The commissioners hadn't made a decision by 10:45 p.m., but if the request is approved, the property's zone designation will change from rural to restricted residential. Thursday night's hearing was a follow-up from one in March, and hundreds of people turned out for both hearings at North Idaho College in the Schuler Performing Arts Center. Most of those in attendance opposed the zone-change request, which would clear the way for 86 residential lots, as they believe a higher-density residential development in the area would alter the current nature of the area/David Cole, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.