Sandpoint workshop advances move to impervious‑surface standard to ease small‑lot development

Sandpoint’s Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 4 heard a workshop from Community Planning and Development Director Jason Welker on a draft code amendment that would replace the city’s separate building‑footprint cap with a single impervious‑surface standard and adjust multifamily density rules in the RM zone.

Welker said the change is intended to allow more flexible use of existing lots and to support modest increases in density where infrastructure exists. He summarized the proposal as moving from the current 35% building‑footprint cap to an impervious‑surface standard that could be as high as 70% on the smallest qualifying lots and would step down toward roughly 35% on the largest lots. Welker noted staff used in‑house GIS tools for a preliminary lot‑size analysis and could not fully verify that dataset within tonight’s meeting.

Why it matters: staff and commissioners framed the amendment as a tool to increase housing options—particularly accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and slightly larger attached units—without changing setbacks or other controls that still limit building size on small lots. Welker quoted a councilman’s observation that “there are only 2 ways to get affordable housing, density or subsidy,” using that line to explain how modest increases in allowable building area could help produce more units on infill parcels.

Key elements and figures discussed: -…