Lake Fernan Heights Subdivision

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Three Coeur d’Alene Community leaders had a strong desire to protect the hillside above Fernan Lake in Coeur d’Alene.  Their homes are located across the lake from the 50 acre hillside which had the possibility of being developed into more than one hundred home sites. The hillside was also home to a Blue Heron rookery.  The Community Leaders purchased the property and retained Welch Comer Engineers to develop the parcel with just enough lots to recover their initial investment. The balance of the property would be donated to the City of Coeur d’Alene as a park.

The property fell within the City of Coeur d’Alene’s Hillside Ordinance and the uniqueness of the site and the desire to minimize the project footprint required a Planned Unit Development (“PUD”) to accomplish the numerous subdivision and zoning variances.  The goal of each of the requested variances was to reduce the impact of development.  Welch Comer prepared the PUD and subdivision and completed design of the water, sewer, road and stormwater infrastructure. The proximity to the project to Fernan Lake, the Hillside Ordinance requirements and the small site created unique challenges for each design element.

The Coeur d’Alene Planning and Zoning Commission approved the project, which was then appealed by a local citizen. The appeal was heard the by the Coeur D’Alene City Council and in the presentation, Welch Comer demonstrated that the project complied with City ordinances and the comprehensive plan.  The City Council denied the appeal and approved the project.

KEY ELEMENTS

  • Hillside Development
  • Environmentally Sensitive Site
  • Planned Unit Development

 

The difficult steep site required extensive stability and stabilization evaluation.

Lot and Road layout was designed to minimize site impact.