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Recently, Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad vetoed a zone change for my property located at Boyer and Schweitzer Cutoff Road. My wife and I followed all requirements as outlined by the city code. This process has taken us six months and thousands of dollars to complete. We hired a land planner, paid the city fees and on March 20, the Sandpoint City Council unanimously approved our zone change.

After that, a group from the airport communicated their opposition to the mayor, City Council, Planning & Zoning and city administrator, which caused the mayor to veto our approved zone change. In the meantime, my wife and I requested a meeting with the mayor and he declined.

These protesters don’t know I am the land owner who sold the airport 4.9 acres in 1988 to allow for the airport expansion. Since then they have not indicated an interest in purchasing more property. I have owned my land for over 40 years, and have worked with the airport in good faith to accommodate their needs. Now because of their objections, the mayor vetoed our zone change.

The protesters speaking on behalf of the airport have no jurisdiction over land use on my property and are manipulating the mayor. Much of their opposition is based on false information resulting in additional time, effort and costs for me. We are requesting a zone change only, and not a land use plan, which would have to be approved by city planning.

Please contact our mayor to urge him to overturn his veto and allow us the rightful use of our land.

STEVE TILLBERG

Sandpoint