Hearing today on housing plan

A controversial housing development off Rimrock Road will get another public hearing today before the Kootenai County Commission makes a final decision.

Local real estate agent John Beutler has said he won’t give up on his plans for an 80-lot subdivision on the south side of Lancaster Road.

Traffic congestion is the latest problem bogging down plans for the development.

A Kootenai County hearing examiner in April recommended denial of Green Meadows because of possible traffic problems on U.S. Highway 95 and Lancaster Road. The examiner also said there were potential safety concerns with the proposed bike and pedestrian paths.

This is the second time Beutler has proposed the development, which was initially rejected by the commission in June 2003 because of concerns about putting 80 homes on the land marked by high groundwater and crossed by two creeks. The commission also had concerns about traffic congestion.

Beutler spent the winter reworking the project and got a commitment from the Hayden Lake Recreational Water and Sewer District to provide sewer hookups if he proves that the storm water and erosion control plans will protect Hayden Lake. The hearing examiner’s April recommendation acknowledged that Beutler had “satisfactorily demonstrated” how the high water can be addressed.

That leaves traffic congestion as the major concern.

The public hearing was initially scheduled for July 22, but the commission moved it to today because of a mistake in the notification to neighbors.

The 6 p.m. meeting will be at the Kootenai County Administration Building, 451 Government Way. For more information, call 446-1070.