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Sandpoint advisory committee asks staff for guidelines before approving code change to allow subdivisions to pay sidewalk fees
Summary
Planning staff asked the Sandpoint Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee to review a proposed change to City Code 7-3-10H that would allow subdivisions to use an in-lieu sidewalk fee in some cases.
The Sandpoint Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee on Aug. 14 reviewed a Planning & Zoning referral proposing a narrow change to City Code 7-3-10H that would allow subdivisions to pay a sidewalk fee-in-lieu (an "in-lieu" fee) instead of immediately constructing sidewalks at final plat in certain cases.
Staff explained the change is intended to provide limited flexibility for subdivisions where building a sidewalk at platting does not make practical sense (for example, a short dead-end with no future connectivity). The referral asks whether subdivisions should be able to use the in-lieu fee option and requests the committee's recommendations prior to returning the item to Planning & Zoning.
Committee members voiced several concerns: whether the change would effectively let property owners unilaterally elect to pay the fee rather than construct sidewalks, how staff would apply the option consistently over time, and how enforcement would work if sidewalk construction were deferred. The committee asked staff to clarify who decides (staff noted the code already delegates that discretion to the public works director or city engineer) and to propose objective criteria to govern when the fee option is allowed.
During discussion staff clarified the current fee level for in-lieu payments is $60 per linear foot. Members also asked legal counsel to advise on enforcement tools — for example, bonding, liens or other mechanisms — to ensure deferred sidewalks are completed if the fee option is used.
Rather than vote on the amendment, the committee directed staff to draft clearer guidelines explaining when and why the public works director might permit an in-lieu payment and to consult legal counsel about enforcement and continuity. Committee members indicated they will review the staff-drafted criteria and consider a formal recommendation at a future meeting.
Next steps: Staff will work with relevant departments to produce objective criteria and return the redrafted language to the committee for review. The item remains under committee consideration and will return before Planning & Zoning and then City Council if the committee adopts recommendations.
