Post Falls Planning and Zoning Commission Regular Meeting – February 11, 2026

The Post Falls Planning and Zoning Commission met on February 11, 2026, at 01:29:46 UTC; the transcript refers to the meeting as the February 10 regular meeting. The commission considered three public hearings involving annexation, zoning recommendations, and subdivisions. Each hearing resulted in unanimous commission action. An open commission seat and upcoming scheduling were also discussed.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent calendar as presented, including the January 13 meeting minutes, the Gaul Annexation Zoning Recommendation (file number ANNX-25-1), and the Prairie Medical Zoning Recommendation (file number ZC-25-2).
• The commission noted that Commissioner Vicky Joe was absent from the January 13 meeting and confirmed the minutes reflected that absence.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No citizens addressed the commission during the citizen issues portion for non-agenda items.
• Public testimony on agenda items is summarized under each public hearing below.

Public Hearing: North Chase Place Annexation and Subdivision

• Staff planner Justin Souter presented the request for annexation and subdivision (ANNX-25-8 / SUBD-25-8). The applicant requested a zoning recommendation of R1 single-family residential for approximately 4.9 acres at the southwest corner of Chase Road and Fisher Avenue, followed by approval of a 20-lot subdivision.
• Staff stated water would be provided by the East Green Acres Irrigation District and wastewater by the city. Sewer service for northern lots was initially uncertain due to elevation, but the city engineer reported that a grading solution had been found allowing all lots to flow south. Chase Road and Fisher Avenue would require right-of-way dedications and frontage improvements.
• The plan would extend Coleman Street to Fisher Avenue and remove the existing emergency access from Chase Road, replacing it with a pedestrian pathway. City Engineer Robert Paulus said the city has an easement for that pathway; the adjacent homeowners association disputed that and opposed the change.
• Commissioner Wilhelm expressed safety concerns about the Coleman Street/Grange Avenue intersection, stating he had personally almost been T-boned twice. Mr. Paulus cited adequate sight distance and crash history: zero collisions at Janisec/Grange in the past five years and one at Wayward/Grange, and said city policy does not install stop signs at residential intersections unless a demonstrated problem develops. Commissioner Wilhelm disagreed.
• Applicant representative Merle Van Houten, for the William Guy Living Trust, said the subdivision would mirror the existing North Chase Place subdivision to the south. He noted the project would provide about 20 lots averaging 6,510 square feet, a density of about four lots per acre, and the developer would build frontage improvements and a multi-use path along Chase Road.
• Public testimony: Donald Smuck Jr. spoke in favor, saying the neighborhood would provide needed options for new home buyers. Frank Pratt, listed as neutral but expressing opposition to the street extension and pathway, said the homeowners association intended not to cooperate, citing traffic dangers and concerns that stormwater/swales could overflow. Douglas Williams spoke neutrally, supporting development of vacant land but asking for stop signs at Coleman/Grange. Deb Saunders, president of the Meadows Association, spoke in opposition, citing about 1,000 cars per day on Grange, concerns about additional traffic from future development, and questions about who would maintain new irrigation and landscaping.
• In rebuttal, Mr. Van Houten said the new subdivision's traffic impact would be relatively negligible, that the road would be built to city standards, and that the new homeowners association would maintain the Chase and Fisher frontage improvements.
• Commissioner Bobby disclosed after the hearing that he lives on Grange and drives past the intersection daily, but has no financial interest in the project.
• The commission unanimously recommended approval of the R1 zoning for the annexation and unanimously approved the subdivision, subject to staff conditions 1 through 14 and an added requirement in condition 12 that the homeowners association establish a reserve account for capital repairs and replacements.

Public Hearing: Mullen Avenue Annexation

• Staff presented ANNX-25-7, a request by Angie McPhee on behalf of North Idaho Surgical Hospital Building Land Holdings LLC to annex approximately 4.39 acres at 1609 and 1641 East Mullen Avenue and recommend community commercial services (CCS) zoning.
• Staff noted the property is currently outside city limits, contains two single-family homes, and is surrounded by existing CCS/medical uses along Mullen Avenue. Water would be supplied by Ross Point Water District; sanitary sewer by the city. Mullen Avenue is classified as a minor arterial, and right-of-way dedications would be required.
• The future land use designation is business commercial, and the Central Island focus area supports infill and annexation of county islands. Staff also noted Mullen Avenue traffic volumes exceed 11,000 vehicle trips per day. No public testimony was offered.
• The commission unanimously recommended approval of the CCS zoning to the City Council.

Public Hearing: Haven View Annexation and Subdivision

• Planning Manager John Manley and city staff presented ANNX-25-9 / SUBD-25-9. The applicant, JUB Engineers on behalf of Haven Ranch LLC and ProMade Homes, requested annexation of approximately 41.12 acres, with R1 zoning on about 22.13 acres and R2 zoning on about 19.5 acres, plus approval of a 209-lot subdivision: 92 single-family R1 lots and 117 medium-density R2 lots.
• The site is southeast of the future Fennecus Avenue/Prairie Avenue intersection, east of the Foxtail development and north of Treaty Rock Elementary School. The future land use map shows a transitional designation, directing review to the 41 North focus area.
• Water service would be provided by Ross Point Water District, which issued a will-serve letter. Sewer service is constrained by capacity in the temporary Highway 41 corridor routing and the 12th Avenue lift station/force main system. City Engineer Robert Paulus said a sewer capacity study is needed and condition 13 would require confirmation of adequate sewer capacity before site development; completion of the model update is estimated in late 2026.
• Road improvements in the area include the 2026 extension of Fennecus and Zoros Road to Prairie Avenue by the Foxtail developer, the 2027 widening of Prairie Avenue by the Post Falls Highway District, and completion of Hope Avenue connections. The applicant said ProMade is partnering with Lakeside/Arcotera on Fennecus construction and on Foxtail homeowners association park maintenance. The applicant also argued that the future hospital campus near Prairie and Highway 41 would employ more than 1,000 people at full buildout, supporting demand for attainable housing.
• Public testimony: Mark Hughes, the prior landowner, spoke in favor of the annexation and zoning and remained neutral on the subdivision, while noting he was surprised to see roads running toward his remaining property. A Foxtail resident, Peter, raised concerns that the new development has little park space and that new residents would use Foxtail's HOA-maintained parks without contributing equally. In rebuttal, the applicant said new residents would pay Foxtail HOA fees, including park maintenance.
• The commission unanimously recommended approval of the R1 and R2 zoning to the City Council.
• The commission unanimously approved the subdivision, subject to conditions 1 through 12, condition 13 as presented by the city engineer, and amended condition 6 making approval of lots 6 through 15 in block 1 contingent on successful vacation of the existing Fennecus right-of-way by the City Council.

Administrative Items & Announcements

• The commission noted an open seat on the commission and that applications are being accepted through the city website.
• Staff announced a comprehensive plan workshop on Tuesday, February 17 at 4:30 p.m., with a Zoom option available for commissioners.
• The commission discussed scheduling for March and April meetings, including the possibility of adding a fourth or fifth hearing on some dates, and agreed to handle scheduling by email consensus.

Key Outcomes

• North Chase Place: forwarded an R1 zoning recommendation to the City Council and approved the 20-lot preliminary subdivision, with conditions including a homeowners association capital reserve account.
• Mullen Avenue: forwarded a CCS zoning recommendation to the City Council.
• Haven View: forwarded R1 and R2 zoning recommendations to the City Council and approved the 209-lot preliminary subdivision, with conditions including sewer capacity confirmation and Fennecus right-of-way vacation contingency.
• All votes on these matters were unanimous.