City moves ahead with parking deregulation

SANDPOINT - The city took a first step toward doing away with downtown parking regulations Wednesday when it voted to waive parking requirements on downtown historic buildings.

The 5-1 vote in favor of deregulation comes less than a week before the city's Planning Commission is scheduled to hear a proposal aimed at doing away with all parking requirements for downtown businesses.

Both plans were spearheaded by Councilman John Reuter, who says the city's parking laws make it too difficult for businesses to expand or move.

The current parking ordinance, which went into effect in 1979, requires businesses that have either changed usage or undergone significant alterations to maintain a certain number of off-street parking spaces, depending on the size and function of the business.

If adding parking space is unfeasible, businesses also have the option of paying an in-lieu fee of $10,000 per space.

With the council's decision, developers can now expand or rehabilitate downtown buildings listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places without adding additional parking spaces or paying an in-lieu fee.

Reuter, who owns the downtown-based Sandpoint Reader, served as the president of the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association until earlier this week.

He says his previous position with the DSBA and the downtown location of his business do not cause a conflict of interest when dealing with downtown issues, but joked that he does not mind being considered a ringer for the business community.

"I've never understood why businesses, especially small businesses, are considered a special interest," Reuter said. "Hey, I'm in the pocket of small business. I'm ready to admit that."

The irony, according to Reuter, is that the downtown business community is still divided about the proposed changes, although he said most are coming around. Other than asking the city to consider making some kind of parking changes, the DSBA has remained neutral on the parking issue.

If Reuter's larger measure gains council approval, he admits it will likely make downtown parking more difficult in the coming years, but said creating a demand for parking will only help businesses.

"If having a lot of parking was the key to vibrancy, then the Bonner Mall ought to be the most vibrant place in town, and that's clearly not the case," Reuter said.

In allowing businesses more leniency in the number of parking spots they're required to offer, entrepreneurs and investors will be more likely to bring money to the area instead of places like Ponderay, Reuter said.

"The only way you have a parking problem downtown is if there are too many people who want to park there, and if there are too many people who want to park downtown, that means lots of people want to buy stuff downtown," he said.

"Bad parking won't stop people from coming downtown, but a lack of activity will. Having people not be able to start businesses will."

The Planning Commission will take up the issue Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at city hall.