Litehouse seeks property zoning change

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SANDPOINT — The need for workforce housing is behind Litehouse, Inc.’s zone change application for a 25.2-acre property.

Under the request, the property at the southeast corner of Woodland Drive and Great Northern Road west of the Sandpoint Airport would go from industrial to residential multi-family. The application will be heard by the Sandpoint Planning & Zoning Commission on Tuesday, Oct. 5.

The goal of the zone change is to allow for the construction of housing on the industrial zoned property. Sandpoint and Idaho Code require the zone changes to be consistent with the comprehensive plan land use map; the map must be amended for the zone change to be approved.

According to its application, city’s staff said Litehouse officials indicated that the proposed change in zoning is to address a workforce housing shortage by developing the property with multi-family housing.

Once rezoned to residential multi-family, the property would be eligible for development with all land uses allowed in the RM zone which would include single-family residential.

City staff noted that the Comprehensive Plan Amendments are “relatively rare” as a general rule. Jurisdictions don’t favor modifying the long-term vision of the community for individual sites.

“Sometimes there is a compelling case to be made that conditions exist that the plan didn’t envision and therefore an amendment is necessary/warranted,” city staff in a report.

For the zoning change to take place, the commission must first consider an amendment of the city’s Comprehensive Plan and, second, consider the rezone request. They must weigh the needed housing against the need to accommodate industry and the operation of the airport, city officials said.

Following public testimony and deliberations, the commission may make a recommendation to the council at the first regular council meeting following the planning commission's hearing or the commission may postpone consideration of the application to consult with advisors and staff. A recommendation to the city council must be made within 40 days after such a hearing.

Public hearing for this proposed zoning change is rescheduled for Oct. 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers in City Hall, 1123 W. Lake St. Written comment can be submitted before the meeting to cityclerk@sandpointidaho.gov or delivered to City Hall. The meeting can be attended online or by phone by registering at www.sandpointidaho.gov/your-governemnet/meetings.

The recording of the meeting will also be available on the city’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/CityofSandpoint.