Coolin land trade hearing set

SANDPOINT — Bonner County commissioners are scheduled to resume deliberation of a controversial land trade proposed at Priest Lake on Wednesday.

The hearing is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. at the Bonner County Administration Building.

Operators of Bishop’s Marina in Coolin have petitioned the county to vacate a portion of Slee Street in order to improve its access and parking. In exchange, the marina would dedicate an equivalent amount of land contiguous to the county’s public boat launch, which would improve vehicle circulation at the site.

But the proposed land swap has attracted significant opposition from people who contend it’s a lopsided trade because the marina would gain waterfront land, while the county would receive an upland parcel. Marina operators have already erected signs telling people to keep off of the waterfront sliver of public land even though the land trade has not been approved.

County commissioners began considering the trade last month.

 The board continued the public hearing to give the applicant time to obtain a petition of support from two-thirds of the lot owners in the first addition to the town of Coolin.