Post Falls City Council Meeting - March 4, 2026

The Post Falls City Council met on March 4, 2026, with Mayor Westland presiding. All members were present except Councillor Mosby, who was excused. The meeting began with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Westland recognized the passing of city employee Aaron Benjamin, who died on February 19 while rafting the Colorado River. The Council then approved the consent calendar and held two public hearings: a zone change for a medical campus and an annexation with a mixed residential zone. Citizens also addressed the Council regarding the Post Falls Historical Society Museum.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes from the February 17, 2026 City Council meeting.
• Approved payables from February 18 through March 4, 2026.
• Approved December 2025 cash and investments report.
• Approved Corbin Dog Park Design Agreement.
• Approved replacement vehicles for streets.
• Approved Painted Rock Subdivision construction improvement agreement. All items were approved by unanimous voice vote.

Public Hearings & Testimony

• Prairie Medical Zone Change (ZC-25-2): Justin Souter, associate planner, presented the staff report. The applicant, OAC Services on behalf of Kootenai Health/North Idaho Healthcare Holdings, requested a rezone of approximately 30.88 acres from Community Commercial Services (CCS) to Community Commercial Mixed (CCM) to allow a future hospital bed tower up to 105 feet (CCS caps height at 45 feet). The site is at the southeast corner of Highway 41 and Prairie Avenue. Staff noted consistency with the Comprehensive Plan and focus area. Ben McGran, owner's representative, described a phased medical campus: Phase I (emergency department with 14 beds, advanced imaging, medical office building) to be completed by late 2027/early 2028, with full buildout of a 250-bed hospital over 10–15 years. He explained that the zone change is needed now for master planning efficiency and vertical integration. Councilmembers discussed traffic concerns, height compatibility with adjacent R1 zoning, and potential impacts on police services. One councillor expressed initial heartburn about a six-story building near single-family homes but was reassured by the applicant's thoughtful design and mitigation plans. The public hearing had no comments from the audience.
• Gall Annexation (ANX-25-1): Justin Souter presented the staff report. The property owners, Triva and Nolan Gall, requested annexation of approximately 7.76 acres at the southeast corner of Cecil Road and 16th Avenue, with a Residential Mixed (RM) zoning designation. The site is a county island; existing homes and mobile homes are over the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. Water would be from Ross Point Water District, wastewater from the city. Staff noted consistency with the Central Island focus area and the Medium Density future land use designation. A conceptual plan shows cottage homes (R2-RM density) on most of the site and a small Neighborhood Commercial (NC) area (max 10% of site) at the northwest corner. Nick Ebner, owner's representative, highlighted that the project would provide attainable housing (cottage homes) and a small commercial corner (bakery, coffee shop, daycare, dog grooming). Triva Gall personally addressed the Council, sharing her history with the property and her vision for a small-town feel, including a bakery and possibly a gyro shop. Council discussion centered on the height of the mixed-use building (max 45 feet allowed in RM) and whether to limit it. Councillor Stickler expressed concern about a three-story building in a mostly R1 area; Councilor Lucas noted that limiting height could hinder commercial viability. The applicant indicated openness to a 35-foot height restriction. Council also discussed clarifying the development agreement to ensure that housing restrictions in Section 5.2.10 (limiting residential to attached/detached single-family, duplexes, townhomes) do not apply to the mixed-use component allowed in the NC portion. No public comments were received.

Discussion Items

• Deliberation on Prairie Medical Zone Change: Council reviewed the three quasi-judicial criteria. They found the proposed CCM zone consistent with the Future Land Use Map (business commercial/commercial designations), the Comprehensive Plan goals (economic resilience, community health, infill), and no demonstrable adverse impacts on service delivery (noting potential increased police calls but based on record evidence). A motion to approve was made and seconded.
• Deliberation on Gall Annexation: Council first considered whether annexation is in the best interest of the city (unanimous yes, citing infill, elimination of septic systems, improved connectivity). Then reviewed zoning criteria: the RM zone is an implementing zone for Medium Density; goals promote annexation, housing diversity, and fiscal health; and no adverse impacts were noted. Council discussed the height of the mixed-use building: a motion was made to approve the annexation and RM zoning with direction to staff to clarify the development agreement so that single-family housing restrictions do not apply to the 10% commercial area. Councillor Stickler voted no, expressing that a 45-foot building (three stories) is inappropriate for this location. The motion passed 4-1 (Stickler opposed).

Key Outcomes

• Prairie Medical Zone Change (ZC-25-2): Approved by unanimous vote (all present). The property will be rezoned from CCS to CCM, allowing the medical campus and future hospital bed tower up to 105 feet.
• Gall Annexation (ANX-25-1): Approved 4-1 (Stickler opposed). The 7.76-acre property will be annexed into the city with RM (Residential Mixed) zoning. Staff will revise the development agreement to clarify that residential restrictions do not apply to the 10% neighborhood commercial area.
• Citizen Issues: Kim Brown and Cindy Mead of the Post Falls Historical Society addressed the Council regarding the Chapin Building museum. They discussed maintenance costs ($50,000+ for remodel, $13,000 for mold mitigation), volunteer operations (24 hours/week, mid-May through October), and the stalled National Register nomination. They emphasized that the Society has invested heavily in the building and requested continued support.

Mayor & Council Comments

• No additional comments were made.