Luxury golf community in the works

Another gated golf community – this one with architecture themed after famous French castles – is coming to the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

A Las Vegas development firm has submitted plans for the $150 million Chateau De Loire Golf and Lake Club, an 18-hole golf course and 475 luxury homes and condos overlooking Moscow Bay.

“True to the heritage of Coeur d’Alene, Chateau De Loire, named after the Loire region in France, presents an architectural character that pays tribute to the French heritage of the area,” says the application submitted by Kirk-Hughes Development LLC.

The Loire Valley west of Paris is known for its Renaissance and medieval castles. Chateau De Loire will be built on 578 acres of meadow and forest land known locally as the “Flying Arrow Ranch.”

Neither Geraldine Kirk-Hughes, the firm’s managing member, nor secretary Brian Bills could be reached for comment Wednesday. Both plan to be in town for a press conference next week.

The proposed resort, which has Idaho investors, is the latest of several luxury golf developments on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

“It seems to be the in thing these days,” said Jill Bowes, Kootenai County’s principal planner. “That’s predominately what developers are looking at. It must be selling.”

Last year, the county approved plans for Gozzer Ranch, a $100 million golf and residential community at Arrow Point. Gozzer Ranch is about five miles west of the Flying Arrow Ranch.

In addition, The Club at Black Rock is slated for expansion. Black Rock developer Marshall Chesrown has acquired 1,200 adjacent acres, with plans for a second 18-hole golf course and equestrian center.

Much of Lake Coeur d’Alene’s shoreline is zoned for residential development, Bowes said. “Restricted residential,” which allows up to five homes per acre, is the standard zoning within a mile of the shoreline in Kootenai County. Casco Bay, Cougar Bay and Bennett Bay are exceptions. The minimum lot size is two acres in those areas, she said.

The Flying Arrow Ranch is actually zoned for up to 900 homes, the developers noted in their application for a planned unit development. Chateau De Loire would keep about half of the land open space. In addition to the golf course, the resort would contain dedicated natural areas.

Hurdzan/Fry of Columbus, Ohio, has been hired to design the golf course. Founder Michael Hurdzan is nationally known for environmentally friendly golf courses, according to a biography provided by Kirk-Hughes Development. The course would be built to Audubon International’s standards, incorporating habitat and wise use of chemicals, the developers said.

The course is described as “semi-private” in Kirk-Hughes’ application.

However, local residents who aren’t club members would get a chance to try the course at some point, the application said.

A clubhouse, a center that offers golf and fly-fishing instruction, and some small-scale retail outlets are also part of the proposed Chateau De Loire.

The developers hope to begin construction this year, pending approval from the county.

A public hearing on the application has not yet been scheduled, Bowes said.

A Kootenai County hearing examiner will make a recommendation on the project to the county commissioners, who have the final say.