Rathdrum council reviews draft comprehensive plan, proposed Title 15 zoning changes and new annexation/subdivision criteria

Rathdrum — City staff and councilmembers spent the bulk of a workshop reviewing a draft comprehensive plan and proposed updates to Title 15 zoning and subdivision rules intended to clarify where and how the city will grow.

The presentation by planning staff outlined a new future land use map that consolidates several existing designations, separates previously broad “RAT” (rural/ag transition) areas into low- and medium-density residential categories, and expands commercial frontage along major arterials including Lancaster and Highway 41. Staff described code edits tying allowable zoning designations to the map to reduce later confusion when rezones are requested.

The council and staff debated technical definitions and policy tradeoffs. Planning staff said the draft moves away from relying solely on “units per acre” metrics, arguing that existing subdivision boundaries and included open space can make net-density figures misleading. Instead the draft would link specific zones (for example R1 variants, R2 series and an MR zoning series) to land-use designations and to discrete design and character criteria so the map and code align. Staff repeatedly described the map as a working draft to be revised after council feedback and public outreach.

Councilmembers pressed for clarity on several points: how "established residential" and the new low- and medium-density labels would apply to existing subdivisions; whether "MR" (a zoning category discussed as spanning low and medium density) should allow duplexes, triplexes and small multifamily;…