Commission approves Junction at Kathleen 10-lot commercial preliminary plat; phase 1 to proceed under conditions

The Planning & Zoning Commission approved a 10-lot preliminary plat called Junction at Kathleen on Dec. 9, 2025, allowing a phased commercial redevelopment of roughly 15.8 acres at the northwest corner of Kathleen Avenue and U.S. 95.

Parkwood (the applicant) presented plans to demolish an existing 50,000-square-foot warehouse and to create a tree-lined ‘‘grand boulevard’’ through the site. Phase 1 comprises four lots near the Kathleen/US‑95 intersection; the applicant said it is negotiating with a potential anchor tenant (STCU) and anticipates demolition and sitework beginning in 2026 with construction to follow.

Staff recommended 17 conditions, and commissioners approved the preliminary plat with those conditions. Key conditions require a full traffic impact study for future phases, a hydraulic analysis to set water-main sizes for full-site servicing, and dedication of 12 feet of right-of-way along Kathleen to accommodate potential future widening. Trails staff requested a consistent street-tree plan and required replacement of any non-ADA-compliant sidewalks as part of final improvements.

The charter school principal who spoke during the hearing requested that applicant and staff demonstrate that future phases will not create pedestrian-safety hazards for students at nearby Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy. Applicant representatives said the phase 1 layout will end the new boulevard before Building Center Drive and that later phases cannot proceed without the required TIAs and city approvals; the applicant also said it will coordinate with ITD on any state-highway access changes.

Next steps: the applicant must satisfy the 17 conditions, complete the required hydraulics and traffic studies for later phases, and obtain engineering approvals and final plats prior to future development beyond phase 1.