Bonner County commissioners approved a one‑time, two‑year extension for the River Ranch preliminary plat (file S0003‑23A), moving the expiration to no later than March 6, 2028, so the applicant can complete conditioned site improvements including road and stormwater work.

Interim Planning Director Alex Fann presented the request; engineer Travis Haller confirmed administrative approvals (ITD approach, permits) are in place and applicant Nathan Hester said clearing has started but funding challenges delayed progress. Hester said he had secured funding previously and is personally advancing work to complete the road.

Separately, the board held a lengthy planning discussion about recent comprehensive‑plan map workshops for areas around Priest Lake. Commissioners described public feedback and noted a seeming inconsistency where neighboring parcels received divergent land‑use designations under the draft map. One commissioner proposed creating two zoning districts under the "recreational community" designation: a narrow residential district for small residential lots and a separate resort‑commercial district for larger parcels. The board emphasized the need to balance public input with constitutional fairness and consistent code language and signaled additional workshops and public hearings before any final vote.

Why it matters: the subdivision extension preserves an applicant's ability to complete required improvements while the comprehensive‑plan discussion signals potential forthcoming changes to county zoning that could affect property rights and development around Priest Lake.

The time‑extension for River Ranch was approved; the comprehensive‑plan amendments will continue through staff work, workshops and eventual public hearings.