Concerns about Heights

Here are some of my concerns about the Panhandle State Bank building. The residential portion, touted as a benefit, does nothing to ease the shortage of affordable housing in town. Having 375 cars converging on one block can only make our traffic problems worse. It displaces a centrally-located grocery store, cinema, and laundramat. Businesses renting office and retail space in this building will be leaving vacant space elsewhere. A building this tall would require the purchase of a new fire truck, with all the associated expenses. Bottom line is PSB does not need a 60-foot building to consolidate its employees in one location. In my opinion, this design is out-of-scale for our town. We have to ask ourselves if their vision for Sandpoint is in line with ours. For me personally, it is not.

So far, no one has made a valid case for exceeding the current height limit of 45 feet in any of the zones being considered. Please put some serious thought into the proposed building height changes, get out and walk around the areas where the 60-foot zones are being proposed, then make up your own mind. Whatever you decide, get out and vote. If you live in the city limits and are a registered voter, you can make your voice heard this week.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for economic prosperity in Sandpoint, but does a 60-foot financial center encompassing nearly an entire city block help us accomplish this?

ARIC SPENCE

Sandpoint