SANDPOINT — A temporary moratorium, placed on new zone change requests surrounding the Sandpoint Airport in July, was lifted Wednesday with a vote by City Council.

The approval of the moratorium lift followed two other votes by council members regarding the airport and surrounding area, with the first being an update to the airport component of the city’s comprehensive plan and amended land use map, and the second included City Code amendments to the airport overlay zone.

The city approved a contract with Logan Simpson Design in September to update to the comprehensive plan, which has not been overhauled since 2009.

“The Idaho Legislature adopted new standards for comprehensive plans in 2013 that required more robust attention to public airport facilities, requiring much more than is really reflected in our 2009 plan,” said Aaron Qualls, city planning and community development director. “I would say we went above and beyond just the statutory requirements and also addressed land use around the airport.”

The update includes a state-required chapter on the airport and its land use, with a concept and vision to “continue the viability of the Sandpoint Airport and protect the health and safety of those living and working in the area,” Qualls said. The goals, he said, are public health and safety, economic benefits, compatibility of land uses, hazard prevention and operations.

The comprehensive plan update also includes a future land use map for the airport area, which Qualls said does not change zoning for the area, only provides a legal basis for city staff and council members as they make decisions in the future.

In addition, several changes to City Code, Title 9, Chapter 12 were proposed during the Dec. 4 council meeting. The changes were approved by council members this week as well and include establishment of an airport zoning overlay that includes a lateral safety zone, inner critical zone, and runway protection zone; a requirement that a disclosure statement will be provided to any zoning or land use related applicant within the newly established lateral safety zone and inner critical zone overlay area; limitations on requests to rezone within the newly established lateral safety zone and inner critical zone overlay area; as well as land use and development restrictions within the runway protection zone overlay area and a revised purpose statement.

While the consultants are updating the comprehensive plan as a whole, the airport element was a priority in an effort to lift the temporary moratorium on new zone change requests surrounding the airport. Council approved the temporary moratorium in July, to be in effect for up to one year to allow adequate time for the comprehensive planning process. With the vote by council on Wednesday, it was lifted after just five months, paving the way for new zone change requests, for which there was one on this week’s agenda.

The Georges and Deloris I. Roberson Intervivos Trust requested a zone change from residential single-family to residential multi-family on a portion of the 10-acre parcel between Samuelson Avenue and North Boyer Road that is outside the airport overlay zone. The current overlay zone bisects approximately half the parcel at an angle, according to the agenda report, so the requested portion for rezone is approximately 5.2 acres on the western half of the property.

The Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on Dec. 3 and

unanimously agreed to recommend council approve the request.

On Wednesday, council members did, in fact, concur with the commission’s recommendation and granted the application, with an ordinance to be adopted at their next meeting.

As for the full comprehensive plan update, the consultants will move forward with their efforts into the new year, with expected completion and adoption by council in September 2020.

For information on the comprehensive plan, visit sandpointid.gov/imagine.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.