Coeur dAlene, one of the fastest-growing cities in Idaho, is set to grow some more.


The city recently annexed two big chunks of property totaling more than 400 acres and is looking at annexing a third, 109-acre piece. Residential developments have been proposed for all three parcels, and those subdivisions would add lots for nearly 1,500 housing units in Coeur dAlene.


While that may seem like a lot of supply, theres a lot of demand in Coeur dAlene, says developer John Magnuson, who, along with builder Tom Anderl, plans to develop whats to be called the Landings at Waterford on one of the annexed parcels.


The three proposed projects are:


The Landings at Waterford: The city recently annexed 309 acres south of Prairie Avenue, between Huetter and Atlas roads, for a residential project proposed by Magnuson and Anderls Bluegrass Development LLC. The northwest Coeur dAlene development is to include 856 single-family homes and about 230 multifamily units, Magnuson says. Those residences will be built in eight or nine phases of construction over a decade or more, he says.


Infrastructure work at the site should start in July, with home construction beginning this fall, Magnuson says. About 125 single-family homes are planned in the first phase of construction. One commercial lot, at the intersection of Prairie Avenue and Atlas Road, also will be developed in the first phase.


Although Magnuson says he and Anderl are still working out price levels for homes at the Landing, he says the residences definitely will be a step above starter homes.


This is going to be more of a quality project, he adds. Were not going to go throw 850 $90,000 houses there.


Some homes planned in future phases of development will be situated on residential blocks that are bisected by alleys, Magnuson says.


Such an arrangement allows homes to be built with attached garages that cant be seen from the street, giving a neighborhood a more old-fashioned look, he says.


This is a product you see more in Western Washington, Magnuson says.


Amenities planned for the development include a jogging or bike path that would circle the property, plus a 10-acre park in the center of the development, Magnuson says. In addition, the developers are working with the city to develop plans for a large pond that could double as an ice-skating rink in the winter, he says.


*Mill River: Neighborhood Inc., which includes North Idaho developers Cliff Mort and Tom Johnson, successfully has petitioned to have about 108 acres annexed into Coeur dAlene.


The property, a former Crown Pacific sawmill site, is on the north shore of the Spokane River, west of downtown Coeur dAlene.


Plans filed with the city prior to the annexation call for the construction of 33 homes there in the first phase of development. Twenty-three of the lots included in the first phase front on the Spokane River, and range in size from almost 18,000 square feet to nearly 37,000 square feet.


In addition, the first phase will include about 4 acres of commercial development.


Neither Mort nor Johnson were available for comment on the project.


Sunshine Meadows: The Coeur dAlene City Council on June 3 will consider whether to annex nearly 109 acres in the northwest part of the city for this proposed 359-lot subdivision.


Sunshine Meadows would be located directly north of the big Coeur dAlene Place subdivision, on a site thats east of Atlas Road and South of Prairie Avenue.


The developer, Prairie Falls LLC, is proposing to build the subdivision in 10 phases over 10 to 20 years, according to paperwork filed with the city.


The project also would include a neighborhood park and a network of walking and bicycle paths.


A representative of Prairie Falls LLC couldnt be reached for comment on the project.