Rognstad nixes zone change

SANDPOINT — City Council approved a rezoning request on March 20 that could ultimately allow a multi-family and small-scale commercial development by the Sandpoint Airport.

Moments after council approved the ordinance for the request on Wednesday, however, Mayor Shelby Rognstad announced his intention to issue a formal veto.

“I have been troubled about this zoning decision since I was first made aware of the request,” Rognstad said. “It didn’t make me comfortable that it was a split decision by the Planning and Zoning Commission to approve the zone change. I am not necessarily opposed to the zoning change, but I believe we should have provided an additional opportunity for public comment in a hearing before City Council made the final decision.”

Rognstad said he would issue the formal veto on Thursday, and if any council members wished to overturn it, they could make a request to have it included on the next council agenda. Before approving the ordinance, Councilman Thomas Eddy said that while he wished there had been a public hearing before council on the matter, they did approve the rezoning request last month, and made the motion to follow through with council’s decision and pass the ordinance. While the majority of council approved the motion, Councilman John Darling abstained.

The property is two parcels that make up approximately 8.5 acres at the north end of the airport, owned by Maureen and Steve Tillberg.

The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on March 5, with commission members voting 3-2 in approval of the request. According to the meeting minutes, Marty Taylor, a certified land use planner with James A. Sewell and Associates, said that there has been a lot

of discussion in the community about affordable and workforce housing, and that one of the precursors to affordable housing is appropriate zoning. Mixed use residential zoning would allow for increased density, he said, which in turn creates more affordable types of housing.

Sandpoint planning and economic development director Aaron Qualls said a development proposal was not being requested, only the rezoning request from single-family to mixed-use residential that could allow for development in the future.

During the public hearing one person spoke in favor of the zone change, according to the meeting minutes. Casey Krivor, who works with Tomlinson Sotheby’s and specializes in land development, said Sandpoint has no property remaining suitable for large developments except for the Tillberg property. Krivor said there are multiple developers interested, but do not want to pursue it until the zone change is approved.

Another couple who live to the south of the Tillberg property spoke against the request, primarily because of potential addition of commercial construction. Amy Marble said she is already surrounded by commercial and is afraid that more would further isolate the neighborhood she lives in, according to the minutes.

The commission also received letters from the FAA, Bonner County commissioners and the Independent Highway District. The Bonner County commissioners said the foremost concern is the safety of the surrounding community.

“In general, it is best if residential populations are kept low in close proximity to airports, particularly near the runway ends, to reduce the likelihood of injury or damage to persons or property in the event of an off-airport accident,” Bonner County commissioners stated in the letter.

The Independent Highway District noted the same concerns regarding danger posed to people in close proximity of a potential plane crash, as well as the impact to traffic flow on Schweitzer Cutoff Road that would come with increased density of the area.

In a letter to council members prior to Wednesday’s meeting, indicating his intent to veto, Rognstad said he would like to have a public hearing on the matter during the city’s May 15 meeting.

“In these cases, I believe it is a best practice for the City Council to conduct a second public hearing to ensure a robust public comment opportunity,” he wrote in the letter. “The Sandpoint Airport is a critical economic development engine, and zoning and any changes thereto within it’s overlay are critical decisions that affect the overall vitality of our region.”

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountdailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.