SANDPOINT — The Bonner County unanimously approved a recommendation that would shrink Priest River’s area of impact by over 1,700 acres.

The city brought a proposed AOI that was expanded west, past Holly Glenn Road, and south, while slimming down to nearby city limits at the north end of Priest River. Priest River Planning Director Jake Gabell said the reason for maintaining an AOI is because the area has seen a lot of growth in that region and had conversations with developers who were interested in joining Priest River. 

“The area of impact ensures the proposed area impact ensures orderly development, protects infrastructure and investments by the city,” Gabell said. “Ultimately, Priest River is poised for growth with its proven annexation record, control over water and sewer services and systems documented pressure on residential demand.” 

Priest River’s new, smaller area of impact now expands slightly south to encompass all land owned by Stimson Lumber. During the meeting, however, the commissioners grew concerned about the west extension and the city’s lack of immediate plans to annex that land. 

The city’s planned growth document that the commissioners cited during deliberation was created in 2021, according to Gabell. He said that the city might have framed its growth differently with the knowledge of the 2024 Idaho Code changes regarding AOIs. 

“It encompasses the five-year timeframe that we, the board, are looking at based on the statute,” Commissioner Brain Domke said. “So, if I take, if I take that information as presented at face value, then there is nothing that is in their projected growth plan that extends west of the Bodie Canyon Road line.” 

Gabell said the city provides water and sewer services to people past Bodie Canyon Road and that a new water tower had been put in that could provide service to more people in that region.  

Commissioner Asia Williams said without plans for annexation in the next five years; it did not seem prudent for the area to be included in the AOI. She also expressed concerns of people paying for a sewer or water system that they were not using. 

Ultimately, the commissioners amended the map in their final motion to draw Bodie Canyon Road as the end line for the western part of the AOI.  

The city’s former AOI had been on the books since 1978 and encompassed a large area around the city’s limits. The update to the area was brought on by a change in Idaho Code, which required all cities to reevaluate their AOIs by December 2025 and included changes that stated all land in AOIs must be planned to be annexed by the city in the next five years. 

“It wasn't a reaction by the city,” Gabell said about redoing the AOI. “It wasn't something we sought out ourselves.” 

All the public comment was against the AOI map in its entirety, with most landowners saying they don’t want to be forced to join city limits or water system. Gabell said the city has no interest in annexing properties in the AOI without expressed consent by the property owner. 

If any property owner wishes to be annexed into the city, Priest River is able to reevaluate the AOI at any time to make the process smoother. The final map has yet to be drawn as of publication.