PF annexation re-examined
Landowners looking to be annexed into Post Falls may soon be facing a consultant’s measuring stick as well as city officials’ opinions.
Post Falls could begin sending annexation requests to a Colorado-based company which would review the economic impact of proposed developments and whether annexing them would bring additional tax money into city coffers or if any tax gains would be negated by the costs of providing additional infrastructure.
“We’ll be able to determine if a project cuts the mustard,” said City Administrator Eric Keck.
Keck will discuss the economic analysis services of Colorado-based BBC Research and Consulting at the Post Falls City Council’s meeting Tuesday.
Keck said he’s been getting a new, clear message from Post Falls City Council members about annexation.
“The council in the past has said, ‘You want to annex in? Just come in,’ ” Keck said, adding the new message is that new development needs to pay for itself. “We need to be more analytical and sophisticated.”
BBC Research Managing Director Tom Pippin acknowledged his company’s interest in consulting for Post Falls but refused to describe what services his company offers or how they might benefit a city like Post Falls.
Two annexation proposals on the Rathdrum Prairie, north of Post Falls, could be the first ones put to the new economic analysis test.
A planned 456,000-square-foot shopping center proposed for the northeast corner of Highway 41 and Prairie Avenue would require annexation to proceed.
The Phillips Edison project site is now an area of undeveloped fields, but the developers contend it could be a retail hub for Post Falls and Rathdrum residents.
Roy Williams, Phillips Edison Vice President of Development for the Western Region, said the company has a preliminary annexation application into Post Falls and that he’s hopeful it will be approved. Williams wouldn’t disclose any potential retail tenants for the project.
Developers of the nearby proposed Foxtail housing subdivision may soon resubmit their annexation application – an application that Post Falls has already twice denied.
The developer, Hayden LLC, isn’t counting on Post Falls officials accepting the application, however. It’s suing the city in federal court over the denial.
Hayden LLC’s attorney, Bob Dunn, said Post Falls officials’ decision to not annex the property was “arbitrary and capricious.”
As for the proposal to begin more intensive economic analysis of annexation requests, Dunn said: “It seems to me to be a little bit peculiar that Post Falls has engaged in annexation activities over the past few years without examining the economic impacts.”