Steel Yard’s Request To Expand On Agenda

A combination steel store and wrecking yard is taking its case for new buildings to the City Council Tuesday night.

Forest Steel, located on North 9th Street, wants city approval to build a new building, perhaps as big as 50,000 square feet. It would replace the wrecking yard and a much smaller building.

City staff have refused the company’s request to make those improvements. Jack Forest, owner of the business, is appealing that decision at the 7 p.m. meeting.

The business was established before Coeur d’Alene’s zoning rules were enacted - and originally may have been outside the city limits. Now, however, it is in a residential zone. While the business can continue to operate, it cannot expand, city staff say.

Forest’s attorney, Steven Frampton, argues that court decisions allow the new building as long as it complies with zoning regulations.

The council also will consider which Coeur d’Alene streets to pave and which to reseal this year. Candidates for repaving include Hedburg Drive, Boyd Avenue, 21st Street, Candy Lane, French Gulch Road, Hastings Avenue, Galena Place, Atlas Road, Hazel Avenue, Crestline Drive, Best Avenue and Ironwood Place. The Post Falls Highway District has agreed to put $20,000 toward repaving the portion of Atlas Road within its boundaries.

Candidates for resealing are Ironwood Drive, Appleway, Lakewood Drive, Ironwood Center Drive, Ironwood Court, 23rd Street, Lilly Drive, 22nd Street and 22nd Place.

Also on the agenda:

The question of whether to charge private parties who regularly request meeting agendas be mailed or faxed to them and for photocopies of other information. The General Services Committee is recommending against charging for the materials.

New parking regulations for business that would primarily affect downtown merchants who remodel or construct new operations.

A draft study of possible increases in sewer rates.

, DataTimes