How to make a difference!
Get involved:
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Attend the workshops on Aug. 2 and Aug. 16, (time) at the Bonner County Administration Building on the corner of Hwy 2 and Division, (address: 1500 US-2) to make sure the goals and objectives align with the community values;
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Send your comments about the Comprehensive Land Use Plan process and/or goals and objectives to planning@bonnercountyid.gov.
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We recommend in addition to any comments about the goals and objectives that folks express concerns you may also have about the rushed process and request they pause and hire a planning consultant to assist with this land use plan update.
Get informed:
Sandpoint’s Planning Process
Currently, the City of Sandpoint has consultants working on land use data collection. They are hoping to begin public engagement for the plan this summer, although exact dates are not clear yet. The link to their Comprehensive Plan Update page is here: Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan - keep an eye on that and we will be updating on our facebook page as well when we know more.
Thank you for helping us to protect our quality of life in our community!
IN OTHER NEWS
Camp Bay Compromise or Court?
You may have heard that the dispute over the beach access in Camp Bay was going to court. Developer M3 is challenging the county’s reversal of its 2021 decision over vacating Camp Bay Road. Neighbors Fred and Jennifer Arn intervened on behalf of the public, to make sure that someone was advocating for preserving public access down Camp Bay Road to the water. After a confrontation earlier this summer at the beach - broken up by Sheriff’s deputies who reminded the developer that the public is allowed to use the beach until the court says otherwise - the two parties decided to negotiate.
The negotiations are reportedly not going well, which means the case is likely to have an initial hearing Aug. 10. In the meantime, you can read the starting positions for the negotiations at 50feet.net. Stay tuned….
County Revenue vs Wetland Protection?
It is well understood that building in a wetland is a big no no. Our society has known this for years, as wetlands have been federally protected in the US since 1977. We all have childhood memories of learning about wetlands in elementary school…cattails, frogs, dragonflies, birds. Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute, was etched into the minds of most children born in the 60s and 70s.
Putting environmental degradation aside, everyone knows that building on wet property causes big problems, perennially flooded basements, expensive water repairs and diversions, noisy sump pumps, impassable roads, neighborhood conflicts, mosquitos, and soggy ugly lawns. Not to mention the cost of a stalled project from community outcry and important environmental permits.
So WHY is Bonner County allowing a 34-lot housing development in a wetland near Coolin on Priest Lake? Well, Bonner County’s land use code is written to allow for very rapid development due to its slim regulations and its elimination of normal check systems.
With plans for a waterfront development, landowner Clifford Mort filed 54 quit claim deeds with Bonner County, creating 26 new parcels (previously 3 parcels) in a well-known wetland. He used Boundary Line Adjustments (BLAs), which is a process that - by county code definition - cannot create new parcels. Nevertheless, that’s what he did.
At the same time, Mort also applied for Minor Land Divisions (MLDs), asking to create 8 more parcels. This entire process avoided public planning and zoning hearings, development design standards, and all notifications: Coolin Sewer District, Army Corp of Engineers, Department of Environmental Quality, Idaho Fish and Game and affected neighbors. So voila, the county has 31 new waterfront parcels.
Until …. locals got wind of it. After hours of research, public records requests, and surveyor help, the inexplicable scheme unfolded. Since then, the Coolin Sewer District, who has yet to see a development plan for the property, has placed a moratorium on new sewer hookups and is studying their system’s capacity for growth.
This development cannot proceed without those hookups. Would YOU build an expensive lakefront home in a wetland without sewer? And even if you could, should you?
The Selkirk Conservation Alliance and Priest Lake neighbors have filed motions to reconsider the most recent land division that was approved in Coolin Bay. If you think this development deserves more scrutiny, email the BOCC and ask them to please hold a reconsideration hearing.
dan.mcdonald@bonnercountyid.gov
jeff.connolly@bonnercountyid.gov
steven.bradshaw@bonnercountyid.gov
Please Support Project 7B!
Finally, if you value our efforts, please consider making a donation - it can be done online at our website or by mailing a check to Project 7B, P.O. Box 2365, Sandpoint, ID, 83864.
Thank you!