County limits megachurch approval

The Kootenai County Commission clarified its approval Thursday of a mega-church’s proposal to put an extensive campus on the Rathdrum Prairie, saying it can only build a 3,500-seat worship center and public ball fields until sewer becomes available.

Commissioner Todd Tondee said the commission was vague when it gave initial approval to Real Life Ministries’ new campus in early May, leaving the false impression the church could start construction on the entire project of nine proposed buildings for a total of 458,000 square feet, including retail shops.

In addition to the play fields, the church can also build a field house and maintenance sheds on 116 acres east of state Highway 41.

“This will allow them to start so we can get the public benefit, the ball fields,” said Tondee. “This is to help the public with facilities lacking now.”

The church must wait until sewer is available to build the remaining facilities, such as business offices, a 300-seat chapel and a children’s ministry – all organized around a village green that could include a 2-acre artificial lake. Eventually the church, the largest in the Inland Northwest, wants to expand the worship center to seat 7,000 people.

The commission voted Thursday to postpone final approval of the conditional-use permit until June 14, giving legal staff time to ensure the order’s language is clear.

The clarification came after the mayors of Hayden, Post Falls and Rathdrum asked the commission to delay its final decision until a sewer master plan study for the Rathdrum Prairie is complete later this year. The mayors alleged the commission broke a 2005 agreement between the cities and county not to approve large projects until the $300,000 study is complete.

Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin remains opposed even with the new clarification, as does Commission Chairman Rick Currie. “If they open the door for one (development), we might as well tear up the agreement,” Larkin said.

The mayors plan to meet with their attorneys and decide whether to appeal in 1st District Court once the commission gives final approval.

Larkin questions how the church can start construction on a 3,500-seat sanctuary when the property only has the capacity to handle the equivalent of 23 residential septic tanks. Larkin said that means the property could handle sewage for only about 69 people.

Tondee said the Panhandle Health District will have to monitor the sewage flow to ensure that the worship center doesn’t exceed the limit.

“I don’t know how many people actually will be allowed in there,” Tondee said.

Senior Pastor Jim Putman didn’t return calls seeking comment Thursday.

Tondee said he understands that Real Life will use the facility for group meetings but still have services at the existing Post Falls church off Cecil Avenue. The nondenominational Christian church is outgrowing its Post Falls complex. About 12,000 people attended Easter services in April.

The commission clarified that Real Life must build the sanctuary first to establish the primary use of the 116 acres as a church, a requirement of the conditional-use permit.

That was an issue the mayors raised, questioning whether Real Life even qualified for a conditional-use permit under county law because the plan is not only for a church but also for business offices, retail space and other buildings.

If the commission gives final approval to Real Life June 14, building won’t begin soon. Before the church can get a building permit it must first conduct a traffic study and mitigate any road impacts.

It also must do a study to show where to locate the drain fields for the septic tanks.

Tondee has said it’s likely the sewer study will be complete before the church finishes the traffic study.

Currie, who was the only commissioner to originally vote against the conditional-use permit, said he remains opposed and thinks the commission should wait to give approval until after the sewer study is finished.

“I do feel this is a violation of our contract and agreement with Post Falls, Rathdrum and Hayden,” Currie said. “I think it’s a great project. It’s just a little early.”