SANDPOINT — Bonner County commissioners unanimously voted to continue an appeal for a proposed marina expansion off Lakeshore Drive to Oct. 1, saying they needed feedback from Road and Bridge before deciding whether the proposal could affect neighboring properties and public safety.

Commissioners Asia Williams and Brian Domke voiced support for the continuance about three hours into the Aug. 6 hearing, saying they were uncomfortable proceeding without hard data on traffic or clarity on whether the current approach to the property meets county standards. Without that information, they said, they could not make the health-and-safety finding required under the county’s Comprehensive Plan. 

Williams and Domke also wanted to allow the Idaho Transportation Department to comment on how the expansion may affect its planned safety improvements. 

“I'm unwilling to make a decision without having the TIS (traffic impact study) completed and Road and Bridge comment. That's my bare minimum standard on this one, because otherwise, it's incumbent upon me as a decision-maker to state whether or not it's in compliance with the Comp Plan or in conflict with it, which I can't do because I can't talk about health and safety if I don't have an answer to that question,” Domke said.  

Commissioner Ron Korn said he would not have suggested the continuance, believing the existing trip generation analysis is sufficient and that agencies had been given enough time to weigh in on the proposed expansion.  

“I don’t like having a hearing like this and then continuing it for more information. It creates a lot of extra work for everyone involved,” Korn said. “The public’s here to hear an outcome, and they’re not going to hear an outcome today.” 

The proposed marina expansion would add 45 slips to the existing 47-slip marina off Lakeshore Drive in Sagle, along with upland uses and a 53-stall parking lot. The county does not have jurisdiction over boat slip approval, but it must sign off on the upland area, including parking, site design and buildings. 

Zoning commissioners recommended denial of the proposed marina expansion due to its location near the U.S. Highway and Lakeshore Drive intersection — one of the more dangerous intersections in the country.  

At the Zoning Commission hearing and the Aug. 6 appeal hearing, public comment was largely opposed to the expansion. Most speakers cited safety concerns about the marina’s location and the danger of adding more traffic to an already congested roadway. Community members also raised concerns about the marina’s driveway and its proximity to the intersection of Lakeshore Drive and U.S. Highway 95. 

“There’s a lot of increased traffic on Lakeshore and Highway 95. The revision to the intersection there has helped a bit since people aren’t turning left, but there is so much traffic backed up on Lakeshore trying to merge on Highway 95 ... it’s a hazard,” one resident said.  

Other issues were raised about the condition of Lakeshore Drive and its apparently limited capacity to handle additional boaters and vehicles. 

“Somebody just referenced going south and making the right turn onto Lakeshore Drive. There's also the northbound traffic on 95 making a quick left to cut across 95. You're looking for that small opening, and you're going to gun it, and they'll be flying onto Lakeshore Drive. You're concerned about just crossing that lane and getting onto Lakeshore Drive," another citizen said. “Lakeshore Drive is quite narrow, with no shoulder. People drive really fast.” 

Zoning commissioners unanimously recommended denial of the proposed expansion due to the many safety concerns that were brought forth by the public, finding that the expansion would create a hazard and be dangerous to persons on or adjacent to the property.  

Appellants of the file appealed the denial, stating that the decision was based on “generalized concerns regarding existing roadway conditions, which are unrelated to the proposed use.” Appellants also argued that there were no records indicating competent evidence that the proposed expansion would create a hazard.  

All affected parties will reconvene Oct. 1 for commissioners to decide on the file.