Kootenai County ponders planned communities

A proposed type of land-use designation that would allow new self-sustained, self-sufficient ” master planned communities ” is causing a stir in Kootenai County, Erica Curless reports today. The draft update to the county’s comprehensive plan calls for the communities to be built on 640 acres - a square mile - and for would-be developers to prove their ability to fund and maintain public services, except for schools and libraries.

“Some residents think the communities will help prevent sprawl in the county, which remains 70 percent rural. But others worry they will promote sprawl and counteract the plans’ goal of preserving rural areas,” she writes.

The county will accept comments until June 4, then amend the draft. Other highlights include “encouraging high-density building in existing urban areas, the Rathdrum Prairie and the northern end of the county,” combating urban sprawl while upping the number of lots available for building and encouraging affordable and senior housing. It also calls for charging impact fees to make development “pay its own way” (check out a recent story here ).

View the story here , or the draft plan here .

What’s your take? Would master planned communities be a good thing for the county?