Cda Council Rejects Hillside Development

In a rare move, the City Council nixed a four-home development on steep ground next to Fernan Hill Road.

“We should have learned from other developments across the lake from this development,” Councilman Ron Edinger said. “Sometime down the road … we have to say we can’t go any further on hillside developments.”

The council rarely rejects proposed developments. But when it comes to steep lots, there have been growing concerns about plowing roads in winter, fighting fires and providing utilities.

City staff estimated it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to improve water pressure and provide decent sewage service for the Fernan Hill project.

Edinger also cited the poor condition of the road, and worries that the city will be stuck paying the snow-plowing bill if it allows more development.

The Eastside Highway District currently shares that cost.

Before the council vote, the developers offered to limit development to three homes and said the property isn’t as steep as city officials say.

The sewage main will clear much faster than reported, eliminating any chance neighbors will be inhaling bad odors, said engineer Scott Jamar, representing property owners Rodney and Janet Ward.

Nancy Wallace, the only council member to vote in favor of the development, agreed there are problems with providing urban services to the site.

But she said: “I don’t think we should penalize the Wards.”

Neighbor Tom Hearn told the council it needs to stop all development along Fernan Hill Road until it studies housing densities and the condition of the road.

“I have this fear - if we have one of our October firestorms - of cars trying to come down the hill and fire trucks trying to come up” a too-narrow road, he said.

In other business, the council voted unanimously to grant a zoning variance that will allow a home for low-income people on a narrow lot bordered by 10th Street, Honeysuckle Drive and Gilbert Avenue.

The North Idaho Community Services Corp. asked for the variance.

“I’m begging,” said Phil Colozzi, director of the Community Services Corp. “I need affordable lots.”

The agency purchased a small home and will put it over a full basement on the property. That will look better than building a tall, skinny building that conforms to ordinary setback requirements, he said.

When completed, it will house a single father with three children.

, DataTimes