278-acre Commercial center wins initial nod – Sysco Corp. named as possible tenant in Post Falls, ID proposed subdivision

A plan for a 278-acre commercial subdivision on the western edge of town has cleared its first hurdle.

CdA Press

The Post Falls Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended that the City Council approve a request by Greenstone Corp. of Liberty Lake to develop a 56-lot light industrial corporate center.

The property is south of Seltice Way, north of Interstate 90 and west of Pleasant View Road.

The commission recommended that city engineers review each phase of the subdivision to monitor traffic flow conditions.

Food distribution giant Sysco Corp. is reportedly considering 35 acres of the property for a $25 million center. Four acres would be used for refrigeration.

Post Falls senior planner Collin Coles said the city has received maps on the subdivision, but nothing that has Sysco attached.

Greenstone officials didn’t return phone calls seeking comment. At the commission meeting, Greenstone’s Jason Wheaton said the company is under contractual agreement not to release information on potential clients.

The Spokane Journal of Business reported in late August that Houston-based Sysco was eyeing an undisclosed site in Post Falls for a food service distribution warehouse. The company later told The Press it has been looking for several years, but has not chosen a site.

"The Journal of Business sprung some unauthorized information that really caused people a lot of problems," Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin said. "If anything comes up, the company will have to make the announcement, not us."

Larkin said the city would welcome the business with open arms if it decides to build.

"It’d be a nice business to have," he said. "And if it decides not to come, we’ll recruit somebody else."

Sysco spokesperson Toni Spigelmyer said the company will release information on a new facility if and when it’s ready to be released.

"We really think the Spokane market is important to the growth of our customer base (in the Northwest)," Spigelmyer said.

The City Council will hold a public hearing on Greenstone’s subdivision request in December.

The Planning and Zoning Commission also approved John Wood’s request for a four-acre commercial annexation north of Seltice Way and west of Corbin Road. Wood intends to build storage units on the property.

http://www.cdapress.com/articles/2003/11/13/business/bus01.txt