Kootenai County, consultants launch combined comprehensive plan and first parks master plan

Kootenai County officials and consultants from SCJ Alliance opened a joint community development meeting Dec. 4 to launch a combined countywide comprehensive plan and the county’s first parks and recreation master plan.

The kickoff laid out an aggressive public‑engagement schedule, a data‑driven community profile and initial parks and waterways findings, and raised early questions about how to pay for park maintenance and infrastructure as the county grows. Aaron Qualls, a consultant with SCJ Alliance, said a comprehensive plan is intended to be “a 20‑year vision by and for the community” that provides the legal basis for future zoning and subdivision regulations and supports capital planning and grant applications.

Qualls said the team has completed a community profile and nearly finished a parks assessment and hopes to hold the first public engagement event within weeks. The project will include orientation interviews with community leaders, broad public surveys and interactive outreach such as scenario boards…