Post Falls council approves Echo Estates annexation with R2 zoning, developers to fund road upgrades under agreement

The Post Falls City Council voted Nov. 18 to annex about 9.72 acres known as Echo Estates and assign it R2 (medium-density residential) zoning, authorizing a development agreement that will require roadway upgrades and prohibit multifamily plots.

Justin Souder, a city presenter, said the property lies west of the Cabrillo State subdivision at the terminus of Okanagan Avenue and north of Echo Drive. The city has wastewater capacity and the site is inside the West Prairie focus area of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, he said, and the requested R2 designation aligns with the future land-use map and the plan’s housing-diversity goals.

“The applicant is requesting the annexation request for approximately 9.72 acres with medium density residential zoning designation into the city,” Souder said during the council’s public hearing presentation.

Developer representatives said they would be willing to memorialize a development agreement that limits future uses and steers the project away from multifamily apartments. Jeremy Terzulli, the land-use consultant representing Eagle Crest Land LLC, presented three design options and said the developer’s preferred layout features individually owned “twin homes” with small accessory shop lots intended to preserve ownership and local small-business uses.

“We are willing to enter into a development agreement that will restrict future uses on this property because we are aware of and understand the feedback from the Council with regard to multifamily development,” Terzulli said.

Neighbors and other residents objected largely on traffic, road-safety and neighborhood character grounds. Cathy Belizna, who lives five acres west of the proposed division, said the local roads are narrow and unsafe for the increased traffic she expects. “Traffic is not something I’m looking forward to,” she told the council. Residents also raised concerns about odors from the nearby sewer treatment plant and the impact of denser housing on agricultural lots.

City engineer Robert Paulus told the council that Echo Drive is currently a chip-seal road and may lack the structural strength needed for heavy construction traffic. Paulus said a road-improvement agreement with the Post Falls Highway District would likely require reconstruction to a residential standard (roughly 24–28 feet wide with a stronger pavement section) and that subdivision review would include requirements for reconstructing the section in front of the property if subdivision approval is later sought.

Council members split on aspects of the request but concluded annexation would support city policies for connectivity and filling county islands. At final action the council approved the annexation and the separate motion that assigned R2 zoning while requiring a development agreement to: upgrade Echo Avenue to city and Highway District standards from McGuire to the property line (and east to Corbin), include sidewalk on McGuire, and restrict multifamily plots.

The annexation motion and the zoning-and-development-agreement motion each passed after roll-call votes. The council recorded members’ votes during the roll calls as read into the record at the meeting.

Next steps include negotiation and execution of the development agreement; any future subdivision will return for subdivision review and will need to meet the roadway and public-safety requirements specified by staff and the Highway District before construction begins.