Transitional homes must have special-use permits

The Coeur d’Alene City Council unanimously passed new rules Tuesday clarifying that the owners of transitional houses for felons, including registered sex offenders, must obtain special-use permits.

The facilities are allowed only in commercial zones, not residential.

The rules apply to any facility that houses three or more felons who are on probation or parole, or three or more juvenile offenders.

The city proposed tightening its zoning laws after residents complained last spring about felons living in a house in the Hastings Avenue neighborhood near Bryan Elementary School.

Awareness of the issue was heightened a month later when the Groene family kidnappings and slayings threw Coeur d’Alene into the national spotlight.

The council also voted to accept 24 acres of park land on Canfield Mountain. The donation came from Quest Development, which is constructing the Copper Ridge subdivision. It is part of a compromise negotiated by the city, developers and neighbors.

The natural park is the first piece needed to form a public corridor linking with national forest land on the popular landmark hillside. Perhaps 50 more acres would be given to the city, assuming Quest can get a separate housing development approved for the adjoining 139 acres. That development hasn’t yet been proposed.