Sandpoint commission reviews draft historic‑preservation ordinance, debates scope and owner impacts

Chairwoman Ellie Sesnes convened the Sandpoint Arts, Culture, and Preservation Commission on Nov. 14, 2025, to hear a status update on a draft historic‑preservation ordinance that staff plans to share for legal review before the commission considers a recommendation to city council.

Bill Dean, the city staff liaison, told commissioners he had prepared a working table and a draft chapter to add to the zoning code that would enable locally enforceable protections for properties on the National Register of Historic Places and other landmarks. Dean said the draft creates an overlay district, a locally administered certificate‑of‑appropriateness permit for exterior changes, references design guidelines, and sets up appeals and timelines. "This ordinance goes there and talks about that," Dean said, adding that without a local ordinance the National Register listings remain "honorific." He also told the group the…