COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — City planning and zoning commissioners unanimously recommended this week that the city council create a “university zoning district” encompassing North Idaho College’s campus.
In January, the Coeur d’Alene City Council tasked city staff with investigating the need to update the comprehensive plan to allow the city to rezone NIC’s campus.
Planning and zoning commissioners said Tuesday that the proposal is compatible with the city’s comprehensive plan and noted that university districts exist throughout the country and elsewhere in Idaho. Moscow, Pocatello and Boise have similar university zoning districts already in place.
“Why would we object to anything that enhances the educational environment?” said Commissioner Phil Ward. “It’s only a district boundary change.”
The district is established “to support and enhance the educational environment of public institutions of higher education in the City of Coeur d’Alene and to allow flexible, creative development for public educational purposes,” according to the draft ordinance.
All uses permitted within the university district “shall primarily serve the students, faculty, employees and alumni of the affiliated institutions or support educational, arts, athletic or cultural events and offerings of the public higher educational institutions.”
Industrial and commercial activities “not directly associated with educational functions” are prohibited in the proposed district, as well as residential developments not intended for student or faculty housing.
Commissioners recommended that the proposed district exclude Hubbard Avenue and Military Drive. NIC owns most of the properties on those streets, but 10 properties are privately owned.
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