SANDPOINT — In a Wednesday meeting, Sandpoint staff suggested a pair of city code revisions that would alter development practices in central Sandpoint. 

If the changes are approved by councilors this summer, Sandpoint’s downtown parking exempt zone will expand south and new residential developments within the zone will no longer qualify for the parking infrastructure exemption. 

Currently, all developments and redevelopments in downtown Sandpoint are relieved from the city’s typical requirement to create a set number of new off-street parking stalls. The proposed change would erase that exemption for new residential infrastructure, requiring all housing developers to build one off-street parking spot per 1,000 square feet of floor space. 

Developers would also have an option to pay a one-time in-lieu fee of $25,000 per stall to avoid the requirement. 

During Wednesday’s meeting, Sandpoint’s community and planning development director Jason Welker brought forth the suggestions alongside an updated version of a draft plan to reintroduce paid parking to downtown Sandpoint. Welker said the initiative to implement parking requirements for residential developments is designed to ensure the long-term viability of the city’s downtown parking system, and that the decision to base stall requirements on square footage incentivizes developers to build smaller, more affordable housing units in the city center. 

Additionally, he noted that collecting in-lieu fees would create an opportunity to save toward a multi-level parking garage — an expensive piece of infrastructure that could ease parking stress as traffic grows in the coming years and decades. 

“If we see a lot of investment over the next 10-20, years, there's going to be a need for a parking structure downtown,” Welker said. “This would be a way for us to have a little nest egg to help pay for that eventually.” 

In conjunction with the above revision, Welker brought forth a suggestion to expand the southern boundary of Sandpoint’s parking exempt zone. 

The proposal would relieve requirements for the properties east of Second Avenue and north of Dearborn Street — an approximately 15-acre sector that includes Bonner County’s courthouse and the Old Power House building. 

The proposed residential development parking non-exemption would also apply in the new area. 

Sandpoint originally lifted parking infrastructure requirements in its downtown core in 2009. City staff intended for the exemption to preserve walkability; prevent historic buildings from being torn down to be replaced with parking lots; and increase downtown property values, thereby driving up property tax revenue collected by the city each year. 

During Wednesday’s meeting, one Sandpoint resident expressed appreciation for the effects he believes the exemption has created. 

The commenter shared an opinion that through the policy, the city has “energized small businesses” and limited the encroachment of chain stores into the city center; “To me, that makes Sandpoint so much more desirable,” he said. 

The proposal to reinstate parking requirements for residential developments comes about a month after over 100 members of the public voiced opposition to “Farmin Flats” — a pair of apartment buildings proposed by a developer that would feature a combined 89 dwelling units and three new off-street parking stalls. 

The proposed development is currently undergoing a site plan review by city staff and will come before Sandpoint’s planning and zoning commission in a public hearing at 5:30 p.m., May 20. 

According to an agenda report drafted by Welker, the proposed parking exempt zone changes are scheduled to come before the planning and zoning commission June 17. Sandpoint City Council will review the amendments July 16.