Let's Check the Map

The City's Pulse Issue #8 April 26, 2007 by Mary Souza
Let's Check the Map What we have right now in Coeur d'Alene is citizens wondering where local government is driving our future. But today, Thursday, April 26th, there's an opportunity for people to speak up and say, "Can we pull over and check the map, please?" Officials are aiming for major development. Public tax dollars are being used to create faster, bigger, taller buildings--more growth than would naturally occur in a free market system. It's being subsidized by urban renewal dollars fueling private, profit-making development. They're thrilled with the expanding tax base, even though the taxes from the urban renewal areas won't come to the city until the year 2021 or later. The rest of us will pick up the tab until then. In the back seat, however, local residents are helplessly watching the city speed down the road to dense urban sameness as local housing costs soar. Our property taxes are increasing because growth does not pay for itself here in Coeur d'Alene. Schools are in trouble. There are no impact fees for schools, so more and more levies are needed to keep up with rapid growth. Average people could never afford to buy their own homes again. "Affordable" housing ($1000/month or less in rent or mortgage) is almost unheard of. Workforce housing, the next step up, is at risk, even for those with good education and jobs -- ;nurses, teachers, etc. If they don't live here already, they can't afford to move in. Our growth is so unnaturally fast that the job market and pay scales have not been able to keep up; wages are lagging behind as the cost of living zooms ahead. And then there's the traffic. Ever been on Northwest Boulevard. at 5:00pm? Be prepared to idle. You might need soothing music to slow your frustration. Oh, but don't worry, our local government says, we are going to "study" the problem. We'll pay your tax dollars for consultants to tell us how out of control our wages vs. housing costs are. And that traffic is a problem. We know the answers already, but let's have some more meetings. We are nice people. Look at the little slice of the riverfront that you get for the many millions of urban renewal dollars given to subsidize high-profit private condominiums. So, land use planning, ordinance updates, schools and roads stay in the slow lane while development zips on down the expressway. Most of us chose Coeur d'Alene because it's a nice, moderately sized town with good family values and beautiful views and vistas. We're not against growth, we just want it balanced and managed. So, while we can't really pull off the road of fast growth, today we do have a chance to check the map. The city is holding public meetings for review of the new Comprehensive Plan -- the map for Coeur d'Alene's future -- and they want your feedback. The first meeting was last Monday night, but only 18 citizens showed up. Come on, people! Please come to one of the three remaining meetings. If you're concerned about growth, speak up from the back seat. The second public roundtable meeting on the new Comprehensive Plan is tonight, Thursday, April 26th at 6:30 at Lake City High. I'll be there, I hope you will too.

Let's Check the Map

What we have right now in Coeur d'Alene is citizens wondering where local government is driving our future. But today, Thursday, April 26th, there's an opportunity for people to speak up and say, "Can we pull over and check the map, please?"

Officials are aiming for major development. Public tax dollars are being used to create faster, bigger, taller buildings--more growth than would naturally occur in a free market system. It's being subsidized by urban renewal dollars fueling private, profit-making development. They're thrilled with the expanding tax base, even though the taxes from the urban renewal areas won't come to the city until the year 2021 or later. The rest of us will pick up the tab until then.

In the back seat, however, local residents are helplessly watching the city speed down the road to dense urban sameness as local housing costs soar. Our property taxes are increasing because growth does not pay for itself here in Coeur d'Alene. Schools are in trouble. There are no impact fees for schools, so more and more levies are needed to keep up with rapid growth. Average people could never afford to buy their own homes again. "Affordable" housing ($1000/month or less in rent or mortgage) is almost unheard of. Workforce housing, the next step up, is at risk, even for those with good education and jobs -- ;nurses, teachers, etc. If they don't live here already, they can't afford to move in.

Our growth is so unnaturally fast that the job market and pay scales have not been able to keep up; wages are lagging behind as the cost of living zooms ahead. And then there's the traffic. Ever been on Northwest Boulevard. at 5:00pm? Be prepared to idle. You might need soothing music to slow your frustration.

Oh, but don't worry, our local government says, we are going to "study" the problem. We'll pay your tax dollars for consultants to tell us how out of control our wages vs. housing costs are. And that traffic is a problem. We know the answers already, but let's have some more meetings. We are nice people. Look at the little slice of the riverfront that you get for the many millions of urban renewal dollars given to subsidize high-profit private condominiums. So, land use planning, ordinance updates, schools and roads stay in the slow lane while development zips on down the expressway.

Most of us chose Coeur d'Alene because it's a nice, moderately sized town with good family values and beautiful views and vistas. We're not against growth, we just want it balanced and managed. So, while we can't really pull off the road of fast growth, today we do have a chance to check the map. The city is holding public meetings for review of the new Comprehensive Plan -- the map for Coeur d'Alene's future -- and they want your feedback. The first meeting was last Monday night, but only 18 citizens showed up. Come on, people! Please come to one of the three remaining meetings. If you're concerned about growth, speak up from the back seat. The second public roundtable meeting on the new Comprehensive Plan is tonight, Thursday, April 26th at 6:30 at Lake City High. I'll be there, I hope you will too.