Planning Commission recommends chapters for approval, revises others

SANDPOINT — The Planning Commission for Bonner County is recommending changes to county policies on property rights and recreation l for approval by the Bonner County Board of Commissioners.

At the Nov. 1 meeting, only cosmetic changes were made to the two chapters, which are part of proposed changes to the county comprehensive plan. If structural revisions had been made, the Planning Commission would have been required to wait to recommend the changes for approval at their next meeting, scheduled for Nov. 15.

Commission chairman Alan Songstad determined the current version of the property rights chapter reflected the commission’s draft of goals, objectives, and policies for that chapter. Other than referencing the Idaho Regulatory Takings Act and Idaho Code 67-65 which govern land use policy, Songstad made no revisions.

While few changes were made to the property rights chapter, that wasn’t the case for the one pertaining to recreation. Commissioner Debby Trinen told the commission that she needed to change the recreation component because it “read like an outdoor guide to Bonner County.”

She said she opted to reduce the number of recreational locations included in the comp plan to just the recreational areas mentioned in the sub area plans.

“This is a guide that should be handed out at the chamber of commerce,” Trinen said.

Trinen told the Planning Commission that the previous version contained outdated information about state regulations for fishing and hunting as well asa long list of recreation areas. However, this information was determined irrelevant to the comp plan, which must address land use actions and regulations, according to Idaho’s Land Use Policies Act.

Trinen said she added an introduction that underscores the importance to protect the ecological integrity of the area while also allowing for recreational activities.

“As the area’s population and visitation inevitably increases, there will be a greater need/pressure to identify areas for businesses to establish to service the community, as well as, protect access to recreational opportunities while development occurs,” Trinen wrote.

Trinen said she sought to promote “diverse recreational opportunities while preserving the area’s scenic character and ecological systems.” However, she also advocated for expanded development on water. “Water-based commerce along the shoreline should be encouraged, so long as its operations do not degrade adjacent property values, degrade water-quality,” she added.

These changes were adopted Oct. 18 and recommended for approval by county commissioners on Nov. 1. The earliest possible hearing at which the commissioners could approve the revisions to these two chapters is Nov. 23. This hearing, which is hypothetically the final hearing in the process, will be open to public comment. Should county commissioners determine the chapters were inadequately revised, they could make their own changes and set a second public hearing.

Other chapters saw suggested changes, and are still in the revision process. The community design chapter, an addition to the Comp Plan, is slated to be recommended to the board on Nov. 15.

The aim of the chapter is “to preserve the natural features and rural atmosphere” of Bonner County. To do this, Songstad, who is in charge of drafting the chapter, said the county should implement design and development standards that address “waterfront setbacks, commercial and industrial landscaping, reduced lighting, cluster development, rural rather than urban setback standards” as well as other “design objectives” in keeping with the rural and natural character of the county.

Due to the differing stages of the adoption process the various chapters are in, public comment is only allowable for some of the agenda items. Tuesday’s meeting will not allow public comment on community design, since that portion of the meeting is strictly to determine whether to recommend the chapter to the board.

Also to be discussed Tuesday are the school facilities, transportation, and agriculture chapters. School facilities and transportation are open to public comment, as they were already discussed once by the Planning Commission. The agriculture chapter is being presented for the first time, and will not be open to public comment until the following meeting on Nov. 29.

Commissioner Don Davis is revising the transportation and the school facilities chapters. Commissioner Dave Frankenbach is revising the agriculture chapter.

For a more detailed breakdown of the comprehensive plan drafting process, refer to the Oct. 26 article “County Comp Plan: What’s going on” where county planning director Jacob Gabell sat down with the Bee to clarify the multistage process. (Gabell is not in charge of the drafting process, rather he serves the commission in an advisory capacity.)

To read the current comp plan and the proposed revisions, go to BonnerCountyID.gov/ComprehensivePlanUpdate.

The Planning Commission’s next meeting will be held Nov. 15 at 4:30 p.m. in the third floor conference room of the Bonner County Administration Building, 1500 U.S. 2, Sandpoint.