Storage space for every vessel, and room to expand boating programs.

Those are the rewards North Idaho College will reap, now that the Kootenai County commissioners have unanimously approved a variance for a new college boathouse.

"We're really excited," said Paul Chivvis, NIC instructor in resort recreation management, who spoke at last Thursday's public hearing at the county Administration Building. "We had no idea going in whether we'd get it. We had a 50/50 chance walking in the door."

The officials' decision doesn't just provide the new building with a variance from a flood ordinance and setback regulations, so it can be built at the same spot off Rosenberry Drive as the current decrepit facility.

It also smooths out the process for acquiring a building permit, Chivvis said.

"Now that we have a variance, we're within all the legal limits," he said, adding that the college needs a permit through the county and state. "It's just a formality at this point."

Chivvis hopes that construction on the new building, priced at $25,000 including engineering and excavation, will finish before any snow flies.

"Hopefully we'll put it on the ground in a month," he said.

Although the commissioners' approval went against the hearing examiner's recommendation, Commissioner Dan Green said he thought it was a common sense decision.

"The land surrounding this for quite a ways is owned by the college, so there is no impact on immediate neighbors," Green said. "And I also think we should work to collaborate with other jurisdictions."

Positioning the new building to accommodate county ordinances would require planting it on top of a popular volleyball court, Green pointed out. It would also have to be raised several feet.

"The ramifications of moving it would create many more concerns," he said. "I think it's fine where it is."

The commissioners added a condition that the facility can only be used for boat storage.

The new 20 -by-40-foot building will replace the current shack that has been protecting equipment since the 1960s.

NIC's boat programs and equipment rentals have outgrown the weathered facility, Chivvis said, and the new boathouse will have room for boats that have been stored outside.

"Hopefully it's just easier on everybody's back getting equipment in and out. A bunch of stuff is under the deck right now, and you have to crawl in every time," Chivvis said.

He added that the extra space will allow the college to acquire new vessels like kayaks and sailboats to expand its outdoor classes.

"Our sailing community is almost nonexistent, there's no youth program, so our hope is to address that issue. That's definitely one of our biggest goals now that we have this facility," Chivvis said. "We're very excited to be able to expand and serve the community that much better."