City's comp plan nearing completion

SANDPOINT — After more than a year of workshops, public forums and countless revisions, Sandpoint’s comprehensive plan is finally on track to reach the city council.

The Sandpoint Planning Commission met Tuesday to hear public testimony and deliberate on the often-contentious plan, which aims to guide Sandpoint’s development and growth patterns for the next 20 years.

Several dozen residents attended the meeting to voice their support or displeasure with the current draft. Proponents praised the plan and its authors for what they see as its forward-thinking growth strategies, while opponents voiced concern over proposed changes to several residential neighborhoods.

Several attendees came out in favor of the plan in general, but said they were disappointed by the lack of consideration for the arts.

City Planner Jeremy Grimm acknowledged that the arts are not appropriately emphasized in the plan’s current form, but said the Sandpoint Arts Commission recently submitted a letter on the subject and will look to create a chapter concentrating solely on the place of art in Sandpoint’s growth.

Throughout the process of presenting the plan to area residents, planning commissioners, city staff and representatives from the city’s consulting firm, Studio Cascade, have stressed the fluidity of the document and warned against rushing to judgment on changes that might look drastic.

That sentiment was echoed again throughout Tuesday’s meeting, with commissioners telling attendees that the plan can and most likely will change over the years.

Commissioner John O’Hara called the comp plan a living document and suggested that there are mechanics in place to allow changes to it the minute the document goes to print.

Assuming it is approved by the city council, individuals will be able to request specific changes to the plan, but at a fee of $600.

The most talked about and visible aspect of the comp plan is the land use map, which breaks the city and surrounding areas — known as area of city impact — into specific context areas that match up with current land use zones.

Some residents have complained that the land use map will destroy certain neighborhoods that are currently zoned for strict residential use, but will have the capability to be rezoned for various levels of commercial use under the comp plan.

Several commissioners spoke about the ire the land use map has drawn, calling it a misconception to believe that simply because the map would allow for rezoning, rezoning will immediately take place once the comp plan is passed.

Grimm agreed, saying that just because a neighborhood is located in a context area that would allow for commercial zoning does not mean it will actually be zoned that way.

Commissioners ended the night without making a recommendation and will meet again next Tuesday to resume their deliberations. The meeting, which will be held at city hall at 5:30 p.m., will be open to the public, but public comment will not be heard.

If, after next Tuesday’s meeting, the commission is satisfied with the plan, they will send it to the council with the recommendation that it pass. However, if they feel they need more time to hear public comment, they can choose to schedule more public hearings.