Take, Take, Take

And more insight from the former Coeur d'Alene planning commissioner:

Duane (Hagadone) faced us down that evening red faced and fighting mad.

It happened over a planning commission hearing called to make a decision on a hotel "twin" that he wanted to build next to the other on the lake. Some commissioners were concerned that no additional parking in the plan would be a problem for this new tower. The city had passed an ordinance requiring all new projects downtown to either provide parking or pay fees to allow the city to purchase property for more public lots in that area. The city lot was free parking at that time and it was conveniently located nicely for overflow for the present hotel.

Duane had to ability to add one more course onto his parking garage to help with the parking concerns of this new tower. He angrily refused to do this because he wanted racquetball courts for that purpose. He angrily refused to abide by the spirit of the ordinance when all other property owners were required to follow by law. He angrily refused all attempts by the planning commission to put any additional parking or pay any fees to allow lots to be built. He even angrily refused to pave and bring up to city standards his employee parking lot which was located just behind Pioneer Title on First Street.. Perhaps it is still unpaved.

Angrily he told us that all we do is "take, take, take."

Steve Badraun
Seaside, N.J.