Design Review Commission approves Coeur d'Alene temple and meeting house, asks staff to limit architectural lighting

The Coeur d'Alene Design Review Commission approved design review DR‑3‑26 on March 26, 2026, authorizing a 29,630‑square‑foot temple and a 17,282‑square‑foot meeting house for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints on a 10.91‑acre parcel in the C‑17 Commercial zone.

The commission's approval included two conditions: that the final design be substantially similar to the submittal and that the applicant work with city staff to develop measures to mitigate architectural or accent lighting (by duration, intensity or other means) to staff satisfaction before final sign‑off. The commission recorded a roll‑call vote in favor: Chester, Ingalls, Messina, Lundy and Keller.

Tammy, the city planner who presented the staff report, described the project site at West Hanley Avenue bordered by Corteier Boulevard and Alcat/El Cat Road, explained that the applicable design guidelines had been addressed and noted the applicant requested a single design departure for the 20% ground‑floor glazing requirement. Staff reported the applicant proposed 266 parking spaces to serve the two religious assembly buildings; the parking count exceeds the ordinance requirement derived from seating calculations.

Applicant representative Johnny Watson, who spoke for the project team, said the design draws on regional architectural motifs and stressed the degree of exterior relief, masonry detailing and landscaping proposed: “we feel like everything we have here far exceeds the spirit of what you were trying to achieve,” he told commissioners. The applicant emphasized enclosed mechanical screening, pedestrian connections, and an enhanced landscape plan intended to buffer adjacent residences.

Several residents and members of the church spoke in support. Eileen Jensen of Post Falls said the temple grounds would create “a serene and welcoming environment” and praised the applicant’s long‑term maintenance plans. Amy Ferguson, a former city executive assistant, told the commission the proposal complied with building height, setback, parking and landscaping regulations and was not seeking variances.

Commissioners praised the landscaping and the project's overall aesthetics but focused the discussion on illumination. Commissioners said they were sympathetic to showcasing architectural windows and features while avoiding excessive uplighting that could create visual intrusions for nearby homes. The commission asked staff and the applicant to work out a specific mitigation approach — examples discussed included limiting hours of uplighting, using lower intensity/controlled fixtures, or producing lighting models — with the ability to return the item to the DRC if staff could not reach an acceptable solution.

After the conditions were added to the findings, Commissioner Ingalls moved for approval and Commissioner Lundy seconded. The motion passed on a 5‑0 vote. The commission also noted no second meeting was necessary for this item unless staff determined additional review was required.

Next steps: staff will work with the applicant on lighting mitigation details and finalize administrative approvals consistent with the commission’s conditions. The DRC meeting adjourned following the vote.