SANDPOINT — The council provided direction on traffic flow for the City Beach RV Park renovation project during Tuesday's council meeting, voting in favor of the traffic flow in Concepts B and C over Concept A. 

After previously presenting two options — Concept A and Concept B — to the public and council for the RV Park renovation slated to begin this fall, planning and community development director Welker proposed a third concept, Concept C, after receiving feedback from community members at the Sandpoint Farmers Market last Saturday. 

In Concept A, drivers enter through the roundabout, drive down the boat parking aisle, and enter the RV park from the southeast where they can back into a parking space. When leaving the RV park, drivers pull out to the intersection on Bridge Street, turn left, and exit. In Concepts B and C, traffic flow is reversed. Drivers enter through the intersection on Bridge Street and drive directly into the RV Park, only driving through the City Beach parking lot when they exit. 

Welker said the concepts had gone through several iterations after input from the sub-committee, the larger parks commission, an online survey, and community members who weighed in at the farmer's market. 

Landscape architect Jeff Stilz said that in refining the concepts, the team prioritized various elements — including creating a configuration efficient for RV parking and circulation, reducing conflict between the boat launch and boat trailer parking with passenger and RV vehicles moving through the site, limiting impacts to the park’s existing green space, and meeting the passenger vehicle and boat parking counts. 

Concept C was largely shaped by community citizen comments about the lack of pull-through boat trailer parking in Concepts A and B, said Welker. 

Although the location of the boat trailer parking would be relocated, Welker explained that Concept C preserves the 10 pull-through boat trailer parking spaces the park currently has, while providing eight additional stalls allowing drivers to pull in and out. 

After sharing community feedback with the Idaho State Department of Parks and Recreation, Welker is hopeful they will fund a project that prioritizes pull through boat trailer parking. 

When asked what concept they favored, Councilor Deb Ruele said “we should listen to our public.” 

“Pull through is just simpler. Even if you do have the capacity to back up your trailer, sometimes you have small children screaming at you and all kinds of variables,” Ruele said of Concept C, adding that her only comment was how she would like to see restrooms closer to the entrance and exit of the park. 

Councilor Kyle Schreiber voiced several concerns with the original footprint of the park, including the current location of the entrance to the RV park. He also said he didn’t see a need for separating the different types of traffic, adding that it creates wasted space. 

Councilor Pam Duquette said she is opposed to eliminating green space or cutting down trees, adding that the park character cannot be preserved with the addition of more parking stalls.  

Mayor Jeremy Grimm mentioned that as an owner of an RV and truck, he favored the entrances in Concept B and C. 

“I’d much rather take a gentle, direct turn into the parking for the RVs rather than come and take a harder turn further in,” he said. 

With the council's decision, the design team will continue working toward 100% design completion, with the boat launch and parking lot components set to reach 35% design completion by December 2026, Welker said. 

"That will be more than enough to apply for grants in January of 2027," said Welker. 

    The presented concept A for the City Beach RV Park and parking lot.
  

    The presented concept B plan for the City Beach RV Park and parking lot.
  

    The presented concept C plan for the City Beach RV Park and parking lot.