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Show Highway 41 Corridor Master Plan April 2002 Land Use Alternatives Existing Comprehensive Plans and Zoning Each of the jurisdictions within the corridor operates under their own adopted Comprehensive Plans and Zoning Ordinances. In general, the jurisdictional zoning applicable to the Highway 41 corridor designates a majority of the land (generally located north of Prairie Avenue) for agricultural purposes. Commercial development is primarily located adjacent to Highway 41 within the Cities of Post Falls and Rathdrum, with residential land uses planned for those areas extending east and west of the commercial areas (Figure 2). While development regulations within respective zoning codes are not consistent from one jurisdiction to another, Comprehensive Plans generally indicate similar development plans for residential, commercial, and agricultural lands. The Kootenai County Future Land Use Plan (March 1999) designates small pockets of land for commercial development at the intersections of Highway 41 with Hayden and Prairie Avenues. All agencies support and emphasize the need to protect the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer as a sole source aquifer. Equally important on the Rathdrum Prairie is the concern for retention of open space. Open space designation can be used for passive (natural vegetation areas), active (golf courses), or agricultural uses. Open space can also be viewed as building setback areas and landscaping within a project. Quality of life issues have become central within planning efforts and will continue to drive future planning within the Rathdrum Prairie. Development Trends During recent years, pressure for commercial development along Highway 41 has increased, gji primarily between Mullan and Poleline jjjj Avenues. Verv little commercial activity has HH occurred or will occur north of Prairie TT. , *.,,,• . », „ » Highway 41 looking north to Mullan Avenue Avenue due to lack of public utilities, primarily public wastewater service to the unincorporated areas of the County. Recent residential development has occurred in both Post Falls and Rathdrum and within their respective Areas of City Impact, primarily to the west of Highway 41. Existing land use is generally concentrated along roadways with large tracts of undeveloped or farmed land within the center of the sections (Figure 3). Other developments within the corridor study area include commercial/industrial uses adjacent to 1-90 and south of Mullan Avenue, limited commercial development along Highway 41, redevelopment of residential uses along the highway, build-out of a 300-unit manufactured home park in Rathdrum, and two planned subdivisions within Rathdrum, with 100 maximum combined single-family housing units. Traffic from these developments will primarily impact the intersections between Mullan and Lancaster Avenues and the west extensions of each road. Given current development trends, the Cities of Post Falls and Rathdrum will continue to grow. It is anticipated that increases in retail, high-tech, and industrial employment will follow these trends, with resultant traffic increases occurring within the study area. A recent demographic and land use analysis (origin and destination survey as defined by Traffic Analysis Zones- TAZs) conducted for the US 95 Corridor study indicates these trends will The Transpo Croup |
