SANDPOINT - A public hearing on a 12,400-acre housing and recreation development in southern Bonner County has been continued to next month.

The developers of Clagstone Meadows sought the continuance so they have more time to respond to number public comments on the 1,200-unit development north of Kelso Lake.

"They asked for a continuation because of the breadth of the comments, the extent of the comments," said Bonner County Planning Director Clare Marley. "They needed additional time to prepare a proper response."

The decision to postpone the hearing came after more than four hours of testimony and discussion before the Planning & Zoning Commission on Wednesday night.

The hearing is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 6 p.m. in the Bonner County Administration Building. The applicants will provide their rebuttal to the comments submitted during the review process and the planning commission will resume its deliberations.

Planning Commissioner Margaret Hall is also asking county staff to pull together information on existing home vacancies in the county, in addition to types of available housing and the number of secondary homes currently in foreclosure.

"She wanted to look at it with respect to the housing goals and objectives in the county's comprehensive plan," said Marley.

Marley said Hall's request will be reviewed with the county's civil counsel to determine if its appropriate to bring those materials into the record.

The public hearing is closed to further testimony, although Marley said if the housing information becomes part of the record, the public would be allowed to testify on that issue.

"There's a possibility they could reopen (the hearing) if new information becomes available. I don't know of any reason why they would do that, but they have that option," Marley said.

If the planning commission recommends approval or denial of the project, it would go before Bonner County commissioners for a final decision.

• Information about the Clagstone Meadows proposal can be downloaded from the county's website by selecting the "projects" link in the Planning Department section (www.co.bonner.id.us).