|
|
 |
|
Monday, October 30, 2006 - Greeted by a healthy cross-section of Post Falls residents numbering more than 60 people, the visiting PlaceMakers planning team made their final presentation this evening, detailing a hopeful future for this growing town and an increasingly popular, customized zoning tool to make it viable.
Kicking off the day at city hall, Mayor Larkin summarized a commonly held feeling here. "Post Falls is in its adolescence," he said. "It's time to really ask ourselves, 'What do we want to be when we grow up?'"
It's a question this weeklong charrette process has attempted to answer.
In opening the presentation, charrette facilitator Jennifer Hurley made note of just how many people from all facets of Post Falls had come by during the charrette, many taking extra time to ensure the team achieved a strong understanding of the community. Furthermore, more than 150 people took the Visual Preference Survey online at this website and, in the process, indicated loud and clear an appreciation for the city's abundant natural features.
"This city clearly cares," she noted. "And we took that very seriously."
Next was principal Howard Blackson, who discussed the SmartCode calibration process and how the city can move from a vision to an actual ordinance designed to enforce it.
"Your previous planning process was kind of like Santa Claus at the mall," he joked. "It heard what you wanted but had no power to deliver it."
"The SmartCode," he continued, "is the real Santa."
PlaceMakers concluded with a PowerPoint presentation by planner Bill Dennis, where he demonstrated how land is categorized under the SmartCode according to six primary "T-Zones" and how certain local development projects currently in the planning pipeline could be reconfigured to conform with SmartCode regulations.
"The whole point of this, as we've said before, is to make the good legal," he said. "We've met with many local developers and they want to do the right thing, but your existing zoning makes doing so very difficult."
Finally, the day concluded much like it began, with words from Mayor Larkin, who praised the effort but also stressed his desire for the team to further expound on transportation and road recommendations within the context of their final report - specific steps for improving Post Falls' circulation.
"Overall, though, I think it was a great job," he said. "It's exciting to see this kind of future for what Post Falls can grow into."
The amount of work and ideas presented was considerable, leaving attendees with much to soak in. As one might expect, there were more than a few comments and questions shared informally with the team after the event concluded, as residents worked to understand the implications of what they'd just seen.
"I really like it," said Daryl Wilder. "I'm a builder looking to get into development. I like that the uses are blended together rather than separated out. My questions are on implementation."
Nanette Faint had a more personal observation. "We are extremely emotionally invested in this town. Our impression of Post Falls is that it's very fragmented. I don't want uniformity but I do want to emphasize history in our buildings."
"This process will be good for the city," continued Tiffany Reindel. "I hope it will control sprawl and bring character to our town."
Walt Haneke was optimistic, but also realistic. "Getting it incorporated into existing Post Falls laws will take some time," he noted, "but I think it's worth working for."
Finally, Peter Cooper demonstrated exactly the kind of commitment that will be necessary for the long term. "I think it's a great idea. I've been beating my chest about walkable communities for a long time. With gas prices, I think people are looking for transportation alternatives."
So what comes next? Within 8 weeks, PlaceMakers will submit a draft of the code and its accompanying recommendations to the city and engage in an informal "back-and-forth" process of legal and administrative review. Ultimately, the city will publicize and hold the necessary public hearings, leading eventually to planning commission and council votes, likely during the spring.
Stay tuned.
|
|
 Take the Visual Preference Survey.
Sit in on the final presentation.
|
|
Planning
