Resort Wants Reversal On Lawn Request Council Asked To Overturn Planning Panel’s Denial Of Proposal To Replace Concrete Plaza With Grass

The Coeur d’Alene Resort wants to replace a quasi-public concrete plaza with grass, but is running into interference from the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Hagadone Hospitality Corp. tonight is asking the City Council to reverse the Planning Commission’s decision not to allow lawn to replace the sunken concrete plaza and benches. Hagadone owns the resort.

The Planning Commission initially agreed to the grass-for-concrete swap Jan. 13 as a package of changes at the resort. But two weeks later, the commission reversed that decision.

The problem, Planning Commissioner Steve Badraun said, is that putting grass in place of the plaza makes the plaza disappear into the surrounding lawn.

The plaza was built in the 1980s after the city agreed to allow Hagadone to make a portion of Front Street into the grounds in front of the hotel, city officials said. Part of the deal, however, was allowing some public access to what became a sunken plaza surrounded by grass.

Last year, the resort proposed filling in the plaza for safety reasons and topping the area with asphalt. The Planning Commission gave its approval.

In January the resort asked to change the plan and plant grass instead of paving the plaza area.

But “if you plant grass, that area disappears,” Badraun said. The public couldn’t find it to use it.

That constitutes a significant change in the use of the property and means there should be a public hearing, Badraun said. So after considerable thought, Badraun proposed the Planning Commission reconsider approving the change without a public hearing.

“It happens occasionally,” Badraun said. “That’s why there is a motion to reconsider in Robert’s Rules of Order.’

Hagadone Hospitality told the Planning Commission that all of the changes it proposes address safety concerns. In addition to wanting to fill the plaza, Hagadone wants to revamp pedestrian access to its plaza shops and create a bus-unloading area on Front Street.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: OTHER BUSINESS In other business the City Council: Is expected to change the time it starts its meetings to 6 p.m. beginning in March. Will consider awarding a $112,000 contract to Murphy Marine to rebuild the Independence Point dock. Will consider a request to allow a variance in the setback requirements for the remodeling of the Fins and Feathers Shop on East Sherman Avenue.