SAGLE — Multiple Bonner County residents plan to appeal a decision by the hearing examiner approving a conditional use permit for the proposed Panhandle Bike Ranch.

The ranch, which will be located off Five Lakes Estates Road in Sagle, has been a highly contested topic throughout the county for the last month. An April 17 public hearing which lasted almost four hours saw attendees filling every seat, leaving many standing around the room and spilling into the foyer of the building to speak in favor of or against the 170-acre park.

Supporters said the bike park is better than the landowners splitting the parcels into smaller parcels for a housing development, the facility will provide a different experience than other trails in the area.

However, critics said raised concerns about the impact of increased traffic in the area and the impact to the environment, potential for littering both on the site and on the road leading to the bike park, and the impact to the nearby residential community.

After three days of deliberation, hearing examiner Jacqueline Rucker approved the conditional use permit on the grounds that multiple conditions be met before the park’s opening as well as a dozen others be upheld for the duration of the park’s existence.

However, many residents felt that the permit’s approval was wrong and are working together to appeal the decision. A few locals have created a GoFundMe page to raise money for the legal consultation and fees required to file an appeal.

“Schweitzer already has a downhill mountain bike park open all summer,” the page said. “Bonner County doesn't need another downhill mountain bike park, especially not one located in a rural residential area. The people who have lived there for generations and people who moved there for peace and quiet have dreams too, and they don't include the congestion, noise and impact to wildlife that will come with this park.”

The group is hoping to raise $10,000 to start the process of the appeal — a roughly $300 expense — which must be filed no later than May 20 at 5 p.m., as well as the cost of legal representation.

Information: gofundme.com/f/stopthesaglebikepark