SANDPOINT — Bonner County commissioners are slated to review an appeal request Aug. 6 for a marina off Lakeshore Drive after the county’s zoning commission unanimously found the project does not comply with Bonner County Revised Code.  

The conditional use permit requested to expand the existing commercial marina off Lakeshore Drive from 47 slips to 92, adding an additional 45 slips. Upland usage was also included in the file, with the incorporation of a 53-stall parking lot.  

At the time of publishing, the Idaho Department of Lands has approved the marina to expand up to 268 boat slips, but the applicants only wish to add an additional 45. The county does not have jurisdiction over boat slip approval, as that authority falls under state oversight.    

The county’s Zoning Commission unanimously denied the file, citing concerns that the expansion would create a hazard to people on or adjacent to the property due to the proposal being near the U.S. Highway 95 and Lakeshore Drive intersection — one of the more dangerous intersections in the county. 

The intersection has been a topic of concern among the community due to its limited visibility and potentially hazardous turns. To mitigate some of the dangers, Idaho Transportation Department in May announced the removal of left turns off Lakeshore Drive to address congestion and safety concerns. Safety markers and cones have since been put in place to eliminate left turns.