Planning commission approves Belle Reve PUD amendment allowing two vehicle gates with conditions

The Coeur d'Alene Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 12 approved an amendment to the Belle Reve planned unit development to allow two vehicle gates on Bellerive Lane, a private street that provides pedestrian access to the riverfront boardwalk. The vote was 5–1, with Commissioner Messina dissenting.

The commission approved PUD Amendment No. 7 with a set of department‑recommended conditions covering fire, water and wastewater access, streets and engineering, planning and parks. The conditions require that emergency services and utility departments be provided secure 24/7 access codes or gates keys, a missing section of sidewalk be installed to meet ADA access, a mid‑point connection to the Centennial Trail be completed, and annual inspections and reviews be scheduled. The commission also added a condition to remove any signage that reads "no trespassing" and to replace it with clear, familiar public‑access signage identifying the riverboard walk and public entry points.

Tammy, the planning staff presenter, told commissioners the gates would "restrict vehicle traffic to Belle Reve residents and guests" while leaving pedestrian access to the full length of the public boardwalk via designated access points. Tammy also described a staff report listing 12 recommended conditions from multiple city departments and noted that the gates' hardware had been installed but were not to be closed or activated until the commission approved the PUD amendment.

Brian Green, president of the Belle Reve Master Association, argued the gates are intended to "separate cars from people" and to reduce wayward vehicular traffic that he said has created safety risks along the private street. "These gates are not about exclusivity. They're about vehicular access and safety," Green said during the applicant presentation, and he described added signage, camera systems and improved pedestrian connections as part of a multi‑department effort.

Opponents, including Larry Winston, president of the Riverfront Condo Association, said the visual presence of gates and cameras can deter visitors and create a perception of exclusivity that undermines public access. Winston said the gates "keep honest people out" and submitted two‑year police call‑for‑service figures that he said showed limited criminal activity behind the concern. Several other residents, by contrast, testified in favor, citing speeding, lack of street lighting and safety concerns for children as reasons to permit gated vehicle control while maintaining pedestrian access.

Commissioners debated additional language to make explicit that there is "no public entitlement to park on Bellerive Lane" and discussed timing for implementing conditions. Planning staff said the decision does not automatically go to city council unless appealed; many conditions (electronic access for emergency services, fire approvals and pavement work) may require further coordination before the gates are activated.

The commission’s approval directs staff and the applicant to finalize the conditions — including revised public‑access signage, removal of small "no trespassing" plates noted in the packet, police and utility access codes, sidewalk completion and an annual review — before the gates are made operational. The decision can be appealed in the period allowed under city rules.

The Planning and Zoning Commission adjourned following the vote.