Hearing examiner OKs Black Rock expansion

A county hearing examiner has recommended approval of the proposal to expand the Black Rock luxury golf retreat after the state changed the development’s water permit.

Hearing Examiner Lisa Key continued the public hearing twice, declining to make a decision on the 1,100-acre expansion until the Idaho Department of Water Resources made its decision.

Developer Marshall Chesrown requested to change Black Rock’s permit designation to municipal use from the current irrigation classification. He never asked for more water, just a change in where it’s used.

The change will mean that Black Rock actually reduces the number of acres irrigated from 668 acres to 545 acres, resulting in less water use than the original permit, according to the June 7 state order.

The Kootenai County Commission will now make the final decision.

It’s unknown if opponents of the project will request another public hearing.

Coalition for Positive Rural Impact at Rockford Bay and Loffs Bay spokeswoman Jai Nelson wasn’t available for comment Monday.

The group protested Chesrown’s water request, arguing that Black Rock hasn’t been a good steward of water. Nelson has said that Black Rock has violated Idaho Department of Environmental Quality standards and has had runoff problems, sending plumes of mud into the lake and nearby creeks.

Black Rock North would include a second golf course, 206 homes and 325 condo units overlooking Lake Coeur d’Alene near Rockford Bay. It’s just north of the Club at Black Rock, the area’s first exclusive waterfront golf retreat.

The Kootenai County Commission in July approved the expansion, and crews broke ground shortly after, starting excavation for the new golf course.

But Black Rock still needs approval for the subdivision aspect of the project.