Sandpoint council approves preliminary plat for Great Northern industrial subdivision with conditions

The Sandpoint City Council on Aug. 6 approved a preliminary plat for the Great Northern Commercial Subdivision, a plan to divide about 15.5 acres north of the city into 21 industrial lots to serve future light-industrial development. The vote came after a staff presentation, public hearing with no speakers, and brief council discussion.

City planner Bill Dean told council the development would create Commerce Drive with a stub called Innovation Drive, provide reciprocal cross‑access easements to allow smaller-than‑typical lot sizes, and require the developer to meet city engineering standards for streets and utilities. Dean said the plan adds smaller lot options—roughly 25,000 to 34,000 square feet—to the industrial land supply near the new Amazon site on Woodland.

The council’s approval followed a staff recommendation and the planning commission’s positive recommendation. During the hearing Dean proposed two additional conditions of approval that the council adopted: first, an irrevocable offer of dedication for 60 feet of right‑of‑way on Block 1 Lot 14 to preserve the potential for a future roadway to the parcel south of the subdivision; and second, that “prior to approval of any final plat, a crosswalk shall be installed across Woodland Drive at the Samuelson intersection to the satisfaction of the city engineer,” language Dean read into the record and that the council discussed with the city engineer as a safety and connectivity measure.

Dean said the irrevocable offer is a placeholder to make future street connections feasible without requiring the city to build the roadway now. The crosswalk condition drew questions from council about whether a receiving sidewalk or ramp would exist on the north side of Woodland; engineering staff and the developer said sidewalks and mid‑block crossings would be installed within the subdivision, and staff will coordinate with the applicant and the city engineer on the timing and design of a Woodland crossing so it complies with accessibility guidelines.

Applicant Drew Dittman of Lake City Developers described the project as “phase 2” of the larger Great Northern effort and said the developer had worked with Amazon and other property owners on road placement. Dittman said the developer supports the cross‑access easements and the irrevocable offer of dedication but cautioned against building a crosswalk that would lead pedestrians to an undeveloped roadway on the opposite side of Woodland.

Council members also questioned stormwater, utility undergrounding and view‑shed issues; staff said the subdivision review covers infrastructure and that building‑height and view‑shed policies are addressed at later site‑plan or building‑permit stages. Public comment time produced no speakers for or against the application.

The council’s motion adopted the planning commission’s findings, included the full set of staff conditions and the 2 additional conditions Dean read into the record. Council President Deb Rule moved; the second was recorded in the minutes. A roll call vote recorded all votes in favor and the motion passed.

What happens next: the applicant must submit final plats and engineering record drawings that satisfy the city engineer’s review and the conditions of approval before final plat recordation. The city’s decision includes the two added connectivity conditions and calls for agency coordination on utilities, storm drainage and street construction.