Sandpoint needs to abandon 'politics of mass destruction'

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Panhandle State Bank purchased the site of the old Harold's IGA to construct a state-of-the-art financial center.

The Sandpoint City Council allows construction of the building but restricts its height so there can be no underground parking.

The city, on its own, decides to separate the construction of the building and parking issues through the regulatory process. Again, the building is approved but there is a parking shortfall because the underground parking portion of the proposal has been nixed.

At this point, in our opinion, Panhandle's parking problem became Sandpoint's parking problem.

PSB had a solution, though. It purchased a piece of property kitty-corner from the financial center but on the opposite side of Highway 95 from the center.

The bank put together a coherent plan for a parking garage on that property that could be used for employees, customers and tenants. The plan was safe and the plan made sense.

The only problem was the city had to vacate an alley that wasn't being used.

The Sandpoint City Council voted to not vacate this alley and sent PSB back to the expensive drawing board.

While we are sure PSB will come up with a workable solution, the bigger question is why has the city of Sandpoint made it so difficult?

Where else would a corporate citizen the likes of PSB get its nose bloodied like the city council has done in this instance?

The logic behind using this facility (and PSB) as a punching bag, also escapes us.

It's high time the mayor and City Council get together to figure out what is best for Sandpoint and steer away from the politics of mass destruction.

Refusing to vacate this alley is just a symptom of dysfunction. By all measures, the proposal is sound and should be re-evaluated.

Failing that, it makes sense to us that the city, bank and downtown businesses get together to propose a parking garage at the site of the city parking lot. There could be a good mix of retail and parking.

Of course, that, or any other solution, would take planning, cooperation and vision from our city leaders. Something that is currently lacking right now in the council chambers.

Sandpoint, the "city that circles the wagons and shoots inward" is living up to its reputation right now.

Here's hoping our leaders lead before others see the treatment PSB has been subjected to and decide to pull up stakes or not come here at all.

? David Keyes is publisher of the Daily Bee.