Final Hearing Slated For Planned Community

The final public hearing starts today for The Club at Black Rock, which could become the biggest community between Coeur d’Alene and Moscow.

The Kootenai County Commission will hold a public hearing tonight at 6 in Room 1A of the county administration building, 451 Government Way.

Millionaire car dealer Marshall Chesrown is seeking to build a golf course and 381 homes on 650 acres near Rockford Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

“We are expecting a big turnout,” Chesrown said. “We are not expecting any problems.”

County Commissioner Ron Rankin said he wishes he could find problems with Black Rock.

“I’d hate to have a city put right in the middle of our boondocks,” Rankin said. “I’d like to have a good reason to deny it.

“I’ve pushed for years to keep development out of south of the river. But, I may have to grin and bear it.”

Black Rock would also include condominiums, equestrian stables, a golf school, miles of trails and tennis and swimming facilities.

The Kootenai County Planning Commission voted Jan. 19 to approve the planned-unit development.

However, that commission voted not to allow part of The Club at Black Rock that would have included a convenience store, storage facility and a fire station.

Some neighbors have said that the massive development will harm their wells and chase wildlife from the sprawling, wooded hills.

Chesrown has promised to pay for a base line study of existing wells and fix any problems that come up. Chesrown also said the deer and elk are welcome and will add to the attraction of the development.

Rankin, who lives near Kidd Island Bay, acknowledged that Chesrown and his planners have done their homework. “It looks like it’s covered very well. It’s sort of frustrating,” Rankin said.

Rand Wichman, senior planner with the county, said he expects to get through all the public testimony at the hearing.

County Commissioner Dick Panabaker said the board will most likely take the comments and documents and read over them before meeting March 8 to deliberate and possibly vote.

Chesrown, 42, who made millions selling cars in the Denver area, grew up in the Spokane Valley.

He purchased the property from the Pring family of Spokane, who had also tried a major development there.

If approved, construction on roads and the water system could begin April 1, he said.

“Everything seems to be all systems go,” he said. “It’s exciting. After three years of messing around, we are ready to roll.”