Understanding the proposed Sandpoint comp plan

Next Wednesday, July 17, the Sandpoint City Council will seek final adoption for its embattled comprehensive plan.

The plan has been in development since 2019, but delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, administrative changes, and calls from the community for greater public involvement have pushed the project back.

The plan reemerged recently when a new final draft of the 134-page document was released by the city July 1. Also included was a nine-page list of edits made since the plan was last presented in December 2023.

Notable revisions include a pledge to review and revise the Downtown Waterfront project and create a community involvement best practices policy. Edits emphasized walkability and the preservation of native trees and vegetation, and all appearances of “industrial” were changed to “light industrial,” which may indicate a shift in the city’s zoning intentions.

Over the years, the plan has received input from a multitude of city officials and several members of the former city administration, including prior councilors and former mayor Shelby Rognstad. Through 26 engagement opportunities, community feedback has also been incorporated.

An appendix to the new draft, also published July 1, features the results of several surveys conducted by the city. In the surveys, respondents emphasized a desire to preserve Sandpoint’s historic character, support existing businesses rather than attract new ones, and promote affordable housing and livable wages.

Mayor Jeremy Grimm encouraged residents to come forth July 17 if they have comments about the plan.

“The hearing is for the public to come and either affirm and support the elements of the plan or if we have missed something or are off track, for the public to let the council know,” Grimm said.

If the council and the community both endorse the plan on Wednesday, it will be adopted and help inform zoning decisions for the next decade. If either party is unsatisfied, it will likely be amended or sent back to the city's Planning & Zoning Commission for further review.

Sandpoint Community Planning and Development director and former council president Jason Welker is eager to see the five-year project come to fruition. 

“We're hoping the public has a chance to give it one last look over,” Welker said. “The goal for this public hearing is to not necessarily reopen the whole engagement process.”

The hearing will be held July 17, 5:30 p.m., at Sandpoint City Hall, 1123 Lake St. It will also be livestreamed on Zoom at https://www.sandpointidaho.gov/your-government/meetings.

The latest draft of the comprehensive plan and its associated documents are available on the City of Sandpoint website at www.sandpointidaho.gov/compplan.

    Several development opportunities and focus areas are highlighted on page 105 of the plan.
  

    The draft plan includes a map detailing the area of city impact on page 45.