Sandpoint commission defers proposal to allow sidewalk in-lieu fees for short plats to pedestrian committee

The Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission on June 17 deferred consideration of a proposed amendment to City Code Section 7-3-10-h that would allow short plats and lot line adjustments to use the city—s sidewalk "in-lieu" fee program rather than constructing required frontage sidewalk immediately.

City Engineer Brandon Stagland told commissioners the change would let applicants pay an in-lieu fee for short plats and lot line adjustments, expanding use of a program that previously applied primarily to sidewalks required as a condition of building permits. "What this code amendment is is a change to chapter 7-3-10-h in regard to using the sidewalk in lieu fee program for short plats and lot line adjustments," Stagland said. He said the fee is deposited into a fund that must be spent within the same quarter section on sidewalks in locations that make more sense than isolated infill segments.

Why it matters: Pedestrian connectivity and the city—s comp plan rely on frontage requirements to close gaps in the sidewalk network. Resident Molly O—Reilly told the commission the city would not have a continuous sidewalk between Olive and Division on Ontario without the existing short-plat sidewalk requirement. "The ordinance requiring sidewalks with short plats . . . is one of the two most significant ordinances we have in this city that has expanded, repaired, and connected sidewalks," O'Reilly said, and urged the commission to have the Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee (Ped-Bike Committee) evaluate impacts before the code is changed.

During Q&A Stagland acknowledged practical enforcement gaps: when sidewalk obligations are tied to a building permit, the city typically requires payment or construction before issuing a certificate of occupancy. "That's the tool that we have to make sure it gets done," he said, but he also noted people sometimes occupy buildings without obtaining a certificate of occupancy and that the city has limited practical mechanisms to force completion in those cases. He added the in-lieu fee is currently $60 per linear foot (reduced from $140 two years earlier) and reiterated that the code change would allow, but not require, use of the in-lieu program for short plats and lot line adjustments (it would not apply to full subdivisions under Title 10).

Commission discussion focused on whether expanding the in-lieu option would weaken an effective tool for building contiguous sidewalks downtown and in neighborhoods. Several commissioners said they were open to the option but wanted more structured criteria for when staff may accept an in-lieu payment versus requiring actual sidewalk construction.

Action: Commissioner Grant Simmons moved to defer the proposal to the Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee for review and recommendation; Commissioner Reed Weber seconded. The motion to defer passed by roll call vote: Chairman Moe Dunkel: Yes; Vice Chair Wayne Benner: No; Commissioner Reed Weber: Yes; Commissioner Grant Simmons: Yes; Commissioner Will Mitchell: Yes; Commissioner Scott Torpey: Yes. The commission recorded the deferral and asked staff to return with the Ped-Bike Committee—s recommendations.

Next steps and context: Stagland said related changes to Title 10 (timing of public infrastructure improvements for short plats and lot line adjustments) will be brought as a separate item at a future P&Z meeting; the two amendments can be adopted independently. The commission—s deferral means staff and the Ped-Bike Committee will review comp-plan alignment, connectivity priorities, and enforcement mechanisms (including bonding or payment timing) before the commission votes on the code change.