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City staff proposes extending Euclid Avenue sidewalk to lake to formalize waterfront access
Summary
City staff outlined a proposal to extend a sidewalk down a 60-foot Euclid Avenue right-of-way to the lake, use sidewalk in-lieu funds for construction and add low-angle riprap or steps to enable kayak launches and informal water access while preserving legal public access under Idaho law.
City staff presented a proposal to extend a sidewalk down an existing 60-foot right-of-way on Euclid Avenue to provide formal public access to Lake Pend Oreille and to encourage public waterfront use.
Brandon (staff liaison) told the Sandpoint Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee that the Euclid south-end right-of-way is platted as a 60-foot city right-of-way that ends at the artificial high-water mark. He said the city’s interpretation of Idaho stream access law means that where the artificial high-water mark overlaps private littoral properties, the public retains the right to use the water up to the high-water line for recreation such as swimming or launching small craft.
“Because our multimodal master plan specifically says that we want to encourage waterfront access for the public, we're going to start a project where we're going to try to build a sidewalk. We're gonna extend the sidewalk on Euclid, is what I'd like to do. Extend it down to the waterfront and maybe put a bench down there to start,” Brandon said.
Staff noted an existing informal access and said one homeowner had rebuilt a short sidewalk at his own expense; Brandon proposed using sidewalk in-lieu funds collected from other developments to pay for the Euclid connection. He described potential near-term treatments such as placing large flat riprap boulders with a low enough angle to allow people to step down to the water and carry a kayak, and possibly adding plantings or a bench later.
Committee members advised that public outreach and narrative control be part of the rollout; several recommended engaging local nonprofits and neighborhood groups (Project 7 B, KLT, bicycle and Nordic clubs) and using local media and social channels. Members and staff also discussed other city-owned or public-right-of-way waterfront end points (Ella, Division, Lincoln) as potential public-access locations.
Brandon said staff will continue design work and update the committee as plans develop; no construction schedule or permitting decisions were finalized at the meeting. Staff noted that building docks likely will not be permitted because private ownership of submerged land limits pier construction, but bank-access improvements and a connected sidewalk are within the city's scope.
