Neighbors protest Copper Ridge

Coeur d’Alene should buy 50 acres on the southwest side of Canfield Mountain and turn it into a park instead of letting developers build homes on the local landmark, a group of neighbors told the City Council on Tuesday night.

The council heard hours of testimony from about 30 neighbors who want to stop the proposed 27-home Copper Ridge development at the end of Shadduck Lane. The group, which also protested in front of City Hall before the meeting, fears approval of the first phase of Copper Ridge would open the door for development on the steeper slopes of Canfield Mountain.

They fear it could bring more scars like the Z-shaped road that already leads to one home on the hill.

They said they also are concerned about traffic congestion, the devaluation of neighboring properties and adverse effects on wildlife and recreational opportunities.

The council hadn’t made a decision by 9:45 p.m.

“I ask of you not to be fooled, not to be misled,” said Jim Pierce, who lives near the proposed subdivision.

“They are not being honest or forthright about what they want to do. They want to develop to the top of Canfield Mountain.”

The Coeur d’Alene Planning Commission gave final approval to the proposed subdivision on 50 acres in April.

Neighbors appealed that decision, sending it to the City Council.

The council also was voting on a requested zone change that would allow three homes per acre to be built on nine acres at the base of the hillside.

Currently only one home can be built on each acre.

The new zoning would allow Quest Development to build 27 homes in the area where at one time the Seventh-day Adventist church planned to build a school.

The zoning on the remaining 40 acres up the steep hillside would remain at one home per acre.

Quest Development, owned by local residents Fred LeClair and Greg Snyder, agreed during the planning commission meeting not to change the zoning on the hillside and not to make the development a gated community.

Quest attorney Steve Wetzel reiterated that the current proposal has nothing to do with the hillside.

“The only portion we are talking about is on the level ground,” Wetzel said. “There will be no development up there unless we have to come back and go through the entire process.”

Quest does have plans to eventually put as many as 30 homes on the hillside while leaving the rest of the area open. These plans would require separate city approval and public hearings.

Before Quest could build on the steep sections, it would have to change current city rules that prevent building on the hillside above 2,240-foot elevation because no water service is available. One idea is for Quest to build a water tank on the hillside that would help with water pressure.

The neighbors want Quest to present development plans for the entire 50 acres, not just the lower nine acres, so the council can consider the entire scope of the project.

They argued that the city’s comprehensive plan – the foundation of all land-use decisions – specifically states that the city should preserve Canfield Mountain. Many neighbors said that the city should help residents buy the hillside and turn it into a park, similar to Tubbs Hill.

Councilman Ron Edinger asked how much Quest would want for the property. Wetzel said he was unable to present a price.

Wetzel said a lot of the controversy has been caused by ill-advised real-estate agents who have told potential property owners in the area that only a school could be built in the area.