North Idaho developer William Radobenko says he plans to develop an 800-acre golf-course community that apparently could add 500 homes to the city of Priest River, Idaho.


The Priest River City Council has agreed to consider a request by Radobenko to annex the site of the proposed development, tentatively named The Settlement, says Bryan Quayle, a contract land-use planner for the city. The property is located about a half-mile east of that citys eastern boundary, he says.


Radobenko couldnt be reached for comment, but in a letter to the city, he asked that it annex 10 parcels of land he owns there.


My goal for the property would be to construct a golf-course community, he says in his letter. Priest River is about eight miles east of the Washington-Idaho border on U.S. 2.


Quayle says that before the land could be annexed, Radobenko must persuade enough landowners with property between his land and the city limits to agree for their property to be annexed so there wouldnt be a gap in the citys boundaries.


Priest River has an aging water system that needs to be upgraded and expanded, Quayle says. He says that additional tax revenue from a development such as The Settlement could help fund such improvements, though it also would add more users to the system and increase its expenses. Quayle says the developer is expected to submit a proposed annexation agreement soon, with more clearly defined plans for the property. Once the proposal is received, a public hearing on it will be scheduled.


Bonner County Planning Director Clare Marley says the county approved a comprehensive land-use amendment request for the property from the developer in 2006, changing it to resort community from rural. At that time, Radobenko anticipated developing up to 500 homes there, but so far hasnt submitted a planned unit development application for the subdivision, she says.


Contact Jeanne Gustafson at (509) 344-1264 or via e-mail at jeanneg@spokanejournal.com.