Annexation Plans Go Before Council

Developers will ask the Coeur d’Alene City Council tonight to annex 145 acres for housing and commercial developments.

One development, south of Prairie Avenue and west of the Idaho Department of Transportation complex, covers 69 acres and is proposed by Rob Pero of Santa Rosa, Calif., and Brad Iverson of Coeur d’Alene. It involves single family homes, apartments and some commercial development.

The city Planning Commission twice voted against this development. After changes in the proposal, the commission voted unanimously in June to recommend the Council approve the plan.

There was concern over building residential homes too close to the Transportation Department equipment yard.

The proposed development has been changed to put 50 feet of open space and a row of apartments between the yard and single-family homes.

There will be a total of 300 feet between single-family homes and the Department of Transportation facility, planning officials said.

The council also again will consider annexing the Beauty Park subdivision. The Planning Commission has reviewed the plan twice and continues to oppose it.

At issue is the density of housing on the 76 acres. Developers Rick Gunther - of Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty - and attorney Jim Magnuson originally wanted to be able to build as many as 17 lots per acre, apartments and single-family homes.

They amended the request to a maximum eight homes per acre and apartments. The Planning Commission is recommending that if the subdivision is approved, no more than three lots per acre be allowed, with no apartments.

, DataTimes