SAGLE — On June 2, a district court judge vacated a 2024 approved conditional use permit that allowed the establishment of a 170-acre bike park located in rural Sagle.   

The decision came after an April 24 hearing where 39 individuals petitioned the commissioner-approved CUP that allowed Panhandle Gravity Sports, LLC to continue construction of a bike park, Panhandle Bike Ranch, that was set to open June 13. In the ruling, the judge agreed with petitioners who alleged that Bonner County’s approval of the permit failed to provide a reasonable explanation for classifying the park as a “recreational facility” and did not demonstrate adequate water supply for fire suppression.  

The CUP was originally approved by the Bonner County hearing examiner in April 2024 and was approved again in June 2024 by Bonner County commissioners after a request to appeal the hearing examiner’s decision. In July of that same year, county commissioners denied the request for reconsideration of the file. The appeal of the commissioner’s approval made its way to District Court in April 2025. By that time, the park was expected to open June 13.  

In a June 2 ruling, according to an administrative appeal document, District Judge Casey Simmons affirmed the appellants’ claims, agreeing that the 2024 county board failed to “identify any facts it relied on in determining the application (CUP) was for a Recreational Facility.”  

Due to the lack of evidence provided by the board, the court found that the appellants' due process rights to judicial review had been violated. The insufficient evidence used by the board to classify the CUP as a recreational facility opened appellants to argue that the permit application could have been classified as commercial resort or outdoor recreational use, which were not approved uses under a rural zoning district — the zone where the park is constructed. 

These findings formed the foundation for the permit’s vacation. 

Due to vacating the CUP after finding that the county board had not provided adequate reasoning for identifying the CUP as a recreational facility, it was noted in court documents that the court did not need to evaluate the county’s assessment of fire suppression. However, for efficiency purposes, the court opted to address the fire concerns.  

Upon review, Judge Simmons affirmed the appellants’ argument that the county board failed to address why the project’s property location within Sagle Fire District satisfies the requirement of adequate water supply for fire suppression. When the applicable fire district was given notice of the CUP application, the agency did not respond. The court acknowledged that the district’s lack of response does not demonstrate whether adequate water supply exists for fire suppression.  

The court’s additional findings further provided reasonings for the court to vacate the CUP’s approval.  

Panhandle Bike Ranch, also referred to as the Sagle Bike Park, is a proposed 170-acre bike park located off of Five Lakes Estates Road in Sagle. The park, owned by Scott and Jennifer Kalbach, was created with a goal of “bringing a world class bike park to the Inland Northwest” through a place that allows families to engage in outdoor activities together.  

The sport, according to Jennifer Kalbach, has had a positive influence on her family. That influence on her family is something that they hope to bring to the community. 

In an effort to continue through with their plans to provide a safe space where individuals can ride their bikes, the Kalbach family noted that they “are not going to give up” on the park's approval.

“We want people to come to the property and enjoy it. We want people to come ride, that’s the whole point of this,” said Kalbach.  

A handful of community members have shown their support for the Kalbach family, calling and writing letters to the Daily Bee to express their excitement for a bike park and gratitude towards the Kalbach family. The park, according to many supporters, serves as a place for youth to stay busy and “out of trouble.”  

On the flip side, many community members in opposition to the park have shared their concerns. Stop Sagle Bike Park, a nonprofit organization located in Sagle, notes that the park is “prohibited” in rural residential zones, and its approval would “violate the integrity of the zoning laws that protect all county residents.” 

The nonprofit also raises concerns of the potential traffic that would be on the dirt roads leading up to the park. An administrative appeal document showed that appellants of the CUP claimed that the park would impact their property rights by way of dust, noise, odor, light glare, increased traffic and other factors that have the potential to reduce property values.  

As it stands, Panhandle Bike Ranch is constructed and ready to open pending approval. The proposed park has been remanded back to Bonner County with a hearing tentatively set for August 25.