Commission sets RV code hearing

SANDPOINT — Bonner County commissioners are taking up land use code amendments involving recreational vehicles later this month.

The hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Bonner County Administration Building on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

The Bonner County Planning Commission recommended passage of a commercial use table and design standards for new RV parks and campgrounds. The panel sought additional time from the county commission to perfect the language of definitions in the code and mull a proposal to remove a 120-day occupancy limit on RVs, although those items will also be taken up when the board meets on Dec. 18.

The recommendation followed a four-hour public hearing on Nov. 21 which drew nearly a hundred members of the public. Tensions ran high in the run-up to the hearing and there were reports of death threats being made over social media, which prompted officials have a uniformed Sandpoint Police officer on hand during the proceeding.

The code changes are meant to ease restrictions on which zones RV parks and campgrounds can be located and allowing landowners to have up to two RVs on their property.

Although removal of the occupancy limit was welcomed by most of those who testified at the hearing, they also saw the other code changes as an infringement on their private property rights.

The city of Kootenai, meanwhile, is concerned with the changes because it would clear the way for RV parks and campgrounds in its area of city impact. The Panhandle Health District has raised concerns about disposal of RV sewage.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.