Concerns prompt zone plan changes
SANDPOINT — Residents concerned about new zoning restrictions north of Baldy Mountain Road can rest a little easier according to Planning Director Jeremy Grimm.
After the comment opportunity at the Jan. 24 planning meeting revealed some public concerns, the planning commission sat down to address them. Grimm said that they amended the plan in a way that should satisfy all the expressed problems.
“The new zoning plan lifts a lot of restrictions on industry in the area,” Grimm said. “But it also restricts commercial and residential growth, and that’s what concerned a lot of people.”
Those restrictions mostly involved specific lists of what was and wasn’t permissible in the zone. To allow for more flexible growth, the new regulations set general guidelines that limited adjacent homes and businesses.
Business owners and organizations already set up in the area worried that their expansion plans would be squelched by the revisions. For instance, Rod Miller of Miller’s Country Store feared that the new regulations would prevent him from adding structures to his facility or open a sit-down deli. Similarly, the Eagles fraternal organization said that their plans to construct a new kitchen and dining area near their headquarters would put them in non-compliance.
The commission reacted by establishing the area 400 feet north of Baldy Mountain Road as a dual-zone area that could house developments of all varieties.
Another resident at the meeting was concerned about individuals establishing adult businesses too close to residences or family-friendly businesses. In response, the commission strengthened distance requirements for adult shops.
Finally, representatives of Sandpoint Airport cited nearby residences as a problem for their grant applications. According to Grimm, this issue provoked the most discussion from commission members, who determined to limit allowable living quarters near the airport to single residences smaller than 1,000 square feet.
The zoning changes come on the cusp of an intense growth period in Sandpoint from 2003 to 2006. The council addressed the expansion by establishing a new, comprehensive 20-year plan for the city in 2009, a document they spent 23 workshops developing. The new zoning regulations were only the latest in ordinance adaptations triggered by the comprehensive plan.
According to Grimm, both he and the commission were glad that residents arrived in force to share their thoughts about the zoning changes.
“What a great example of local government in action to see residents approach the commission with their worries and have the officials respond favorably,” Grimm said. “We’re thrilled to be able to appease their concerns.”