RATHDRUM PRAIRIE AREA OF CITY IMPACT AGREEMENTS
Beginning in 1995, the Cities of Post Falls, Rathdrum, and Hayden; together with Kootenai County, established Areas of City Impact Agreements (ACI). The original agreements established ACI boundaries, with the intent that the areas within the boundaries would ultimately be annexed into the prospective cities. The three cities have grown at various rates and directions; and as of late, development pressures are being realized within the County areas that are not under any of the ACI boundaries. As development pressures continued, the local communities also began to look for opportunities to retain some of the remaining open space within the Rathdrum Prairie.
To meet the issues of growth on the Prairie, the three communities and Kootenai County established new interim ACI in 2004. These new agreements were established for a period of five (5) years, during which time re-zoning would not be allowed outside of the boundaries. The intent is to allow time for a Wastewater Master Plan to be completed that would address the most viable methods to provide for wastewater collection, treatment and disposal for the undeveloped areas, taking into consideration the local community values. Once the Plan is complete, the three cities and the County will then establish final ACI boundaries for each city.
The cities and the County have established a steering committee for management of the plan (Rathdrum Prairie Wastewater Management Committee). The Committee will be reviewing qualifications from consultants, selecting a consultant to complete the study, and guiding the local communities with implementation of the study results. |
