1. What is Coeur Housing?

2. What is infill housing?

Answer: Infill housing is defined as new housing units constructed on vacant or underused lots, generally in existing neighborhoods.  Infill also utilizes existing infrastructure.

3. Has Coeur d’Alene had an infilling code before?

Answer: Yes, the City previously had a Cluster Housing Code and a Pocket Housing Code.  They have both been repealed.  Coeur Housing will take the place of these with the goal of more neighborhood compatibility by having smaller project sizes and better design criteria.

4. Can Coeur Housing be located on a typical sized Single-Family lot? 

5. What are the minimum and maximum lot sizes to be eligible for Coeur Housing?

6. If I live in a neighborhood that was approved by special use for single family only, or as a planned unit development (PUD) and has codes, covenants, and restrictions (CCR’s) that prohibit units other than single family, then is Coeur Housing allowed in these types of developments?

Answer: No, Coeur Housing is not allowed in areas that were approved by special use permit for single family only or as a planned unit development if the housing types are restricted to single family.  

7. Is Coeur Housing the same as an R-34 Special Use Permit?

Answer: No, Coeur Housing is not the same thing as R-34.  Coeur Housing is intended to be house-scale and generally would result in one building on one lot depending on the type of housing that is constructed.  R-34 special use permits are a discretionary process requiring a public hearing with the Planning Commission. If granted, an R-34 special use permit would allow 34 units per acre and 63 feet maximum height.  There is no maximum project size with an R-34 special use permit, and they can be part of a larger apartment complex or could be a smaller project near a major roadway.  Coeur Housing types have lot size and project size maximums and height limits that are less than allowed with the R-34 special use permit.  The Coeur Housing Code is being drafted to be allowed by-right if all of the zoning, lot size, location and allowable housing type requirements can be met.

8. What is the maximum number of units allowed in a Coeur Housing project?

9. What are the appropriate building heights for Coeur Housing?

Answer:  The Coeur Housing Committee has made recommendations that if a Coeur Housing development is located in a residential neighborhood, then the building should be house-scale in nature and generally mirror allowable building height of the underlining zoning.     

10. What is a Second Story Stepback?

Answer:  A secondary story stepback is the stepping back of a structure away from the neighboring property at the second level so that it lessens the impact of blocking the air and light on the neighboring property.  The second story stepback is currently part of the City’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) code.   For more information on the second story stepback pleases see the below link to the City’s ADU Handout.

11. What is medium density housing development?

 Answer:  Medium density housing is typically residential developments that falls between detached suburban housing and multi-story apartments.

12. What communities have a Missing Middle Housing code?

Answer:  Communities across the United States have incorporated various aspects and housing types modeled after Opticos Design’s Missing Middle Housing into their zoning codes. Below is a list of some cities that have incorporated parts of the missing middle housing concepts into their zoning codes.

13. What is By-Right Development process?

14. Is an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) part of the Coeur Housing code?

15. Is Coeur Housing an Affordable Housing code?

Answer: No. Coeur Housing is not an affordable housing code.  It is intended to allow for more housing product types that will result in more housing choices for families and individuals, but with a focus on quality design and compatibility.  By creating more supply and a variety of housing choices at different price points for renters and buyers, it may indirectly help with some of our affordability challenges.

16. Who is drafting the Coeur Housing Code?

Answer:  Planning Department staff is drafting the code with the assistance of the Coeur Housing Committee and input from the community (including neighborhood groups), Planning Commission, City Council, Historic Preservation Commission, and City departments.  No consultants are drafting of this code.  See answer to question 1 about Coeur Housing and its inspiration from Missing Middle Housing.  

17. Will the Coeur Housing Code be modeled after major metropolitan areas in Washington and California?

18. How did the City notice the virtual community meeting on November 19, 2020?

Answer:  Staff noticed the community of the meeting using the following methods:

19. What is required for public notice for a code amendment?

Answer:  The Coeur d’Alene Municipal Code provides the requirement for public notice of a code amendment in Section 17.09.120: B, which reads as follows:   

20. Will there be more opportunities for public input?

Answer:  Yes. At a minimum, the City is required to hold one public hearing on a Zoning Code amendment such as the Coeur Housing Code.  The hearing would be with the Planning Commission.  The City can opt to hold an additional hearing with the City Council as well.  Based on feedback and questions at the virtual community meeting on November 19, staff and the Coeur Housing Committee will be doing more outreach with the neighborhood groups and engaging the City’s Historic Preservation Commission and consultant preparing the Historic Preservation Plan to receiving more input on the code and ensure that it won’t result in negative impacts on neighborhoods.  Staff plans to host another virtual community meeting with neighborhood groups in January (tentatively scheduled for January 27^th from 5:30-7:00 pm.) and to do outreach with neighborhoods, Historic Preservation Commission and historic preservation consultant before the code is developed. Future public meetings and hearings will be advertised in the same manner.