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Council hears update on downtown infill working group; staff recommends tower limits and design changes
Summary
Planning staff and a citizen working group presented modeling and recommended limits on tower heights and changes to floor‑area ratio bonuses to preserve Coeur d'Alene's historic downtown core and improve pedestrian character.
Coeur d’Alene — City planning staff on April 15 updated the City Council on the downtown core infill working group’s modeling and early recommendations to preserve the historic downtown character as new towers are built nearby.
Hillary (city planning staff) told council members the working group used GIS massing and shadow models — including the three towers already approved or under construction (Resort tower, Thomas George, Marriott) — to test scenarios. The group’s early recommendations include limiting prospective tower heights on Sherman, Lakeside and Front avenues and shifting emphasis from vehicle‑oriented streetfronts to pedestrian‑oriented design. The group also recommended tightening floor‑area ratio (FAR) bonuses that now reward private amenities such as gyms and meeting rooms and revising bonuses to better incentivize workforce housing.
Why it matters: Council asked staff last year to evaluate the downtown code and design guidelines after…
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