Neighbors press Sandpoint commission over HVAC noise, batting‑cage placement and plan adherence

During the general public‑comment period, multiple residents raised quality‑of‑life concerns tied to nearby park facilities. A Sandpoint resident (public commenter) urged the commission to honor the adopted parks master plan and not treat the recent land swap as an implicit decision to retain an RV park at City Beach without broad public involvement.

Noise and HVAC: Jackie Hannah told the commission she remains concerned about a noisy HVAC unit at a facility adjacent to her backyard and said minutes from earlier meetings suggested the city would install a sound barrier; she urged staff to revisit that mitigation. Sharon Strand, who said she lives adjacent to Driver’s Park, described the constant noise from the HVAC as having taken away the usability of her backyard and asked whether the fire department or other agencies had approved the concrete pad near the batting cage.

Batting‑cage placement and plan adherence: Bill Strand and other residents said the batting‑cage pad appears much larger than the location shown in the city’s recreation plan and that the enlarged pad and batting‑cage installation occurred without public input; they asked the commission to consider noise mitigation and to pause further changes until plans are reconciled with the adopted documents.

Commission response and next steps: Chair Taylor Long and staff thanked speakers and noted staff will prepare an update and can bring a report addressing HVAC noise and mitigation options at an upcoming meeting (December or January).