Panhandle Bike Ranch CUP approved

SAGLE — The Bonner County hearing examiner has approved a conditional use permit for the applicants of the Panhandle Bike Ranch following a few days of deliberation after a nearly four-hour public hearing last Wednesday.

The 170-acre bike park is set to be located off of Five Lakes Estates Road in Sagle, a privately-maintained stretch of road. The owners of the property, Scott and Jennifer Kalbach, plan to create a downhill mountain bike area that will operate four days a week.

During the public hearing, Scott Kalbach said he hopes to employ local residents to work on trail crews and maintenance teams so the park directly benefits the area in more ways than just one.

However, the proposed park sparked controversy among Bonner County residents, some of whom thought the park would destroy the peaceful serenity that many came to the area to enjoy. One public hearing attendee said the creation of this facility would take the greater Sandpoint area one step closer to becoming an over-populated and unaffordable Lake Tahoe look-alike.

Despite the uproar of disapproval the proposed park received, even more seemed to be in favor of the park, thinking it would be a great way to keep kids further engaged in the outdoors and out of trouble.

The issue garnered the most written comments the Bonner County Planning Department has ever received on a public hearing topic, with roughly 60% of comments being in favor of the park and 40% being against it.

After over two-and-a-half hours of public comment Wednesday, the hearing examiner decided to take her allotted five business days to deliberate on the issue, saying she had a lot of information to go over to make a well-rounded decision.

The approval was posted late Monday evening, less than three business days later, on the Bonner County Planning Department’s website.

“Hearing Examiner Rucker approved this project FILE CUP0002-24, a proposal for a recreational facility, finding that it is in accord with the general and specific objectives of the Bonner County Comprehensive Plan and Bonner County Revised Code …” the decision letter read.

Four conditions must be met prior to the issuance of the permit:

1. A supplemental site plan must be submitted containing a detailed campsite layout, parking plan, layout and composition of the proposed structures, and the bike trail system and shuttle routes; 

2. A fire risk assessment and mitigation plan as well as a suppression and emergency services plan must be submitted and be satisfactory to the presiding fire district; 

3. The Kalbachs must submit a stormwater, grading and erosion control plan in conformance with county codes;  

4. A geotechnical analysis for all internal roadways, shuttle routes and the helipad site must be submitted in accordance with county code.

A dozen conditions also must be continuously met for the life of the bike park’s existence, or the CUP could be revoked and the park would be in danger of being shut down.

Among those requirements are that all county setbacks shall be met as well as camping shall only be subordinate to the use of the bike park and is not to be operated as a separate land use without a pre-approved modification to the CUP. The helipad is only allowed for emergency use and shall not be used for any recreation purposes. All buildings and wastewater disposal must be in compliance with all county codes prior to operation.

The bike park will only be in use from May to September, Thursday through Sunday. Additionally, the park will be allowed to operate on Memorial and Labor Day. The hours of operation, not including those utilizing camp sites, will not exceed 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A maximum of 65 riders are allowed on the property per day, unless an event is taking place.

“[A] limit of two race events will be allowed per calendar year, and the race events are limited to 150 people comprised of racers, spectators, vendors, volunteers and employees,” the final condition stated. “All other events, such as club or group gatherings, are limited to 65 participants.”

Those unhappy with the decision will be allowed to appeal the approval within 28 days of the decision. Aggrieved parties have until May 20 at 5 p.m. to file.