Sandpoint council rejects Bridge Street land-use agreement after heated debate over sidewalk, access and developer bond

The Sandpoint City Council voted down a proposed land-use agreement with Bridge Street LLC on Jan. 17 that would have authorized contractor access to private property to build a sidewalk and committed the city to preserving vehicular access in Gunning's Alley. The motion failed on a roll-call vote after more than an hour of questioning and debate.

Council members and staff said the city faces a choice between using a developer-funded performance bond to complete an overdue sidewalk project or canceling the construction contract and pursuing other, potentially costlier options. Holly Ellis, Sandpoint’s public works director, told the council that “Bridge Street LLC posted $385,000 in a performance bond,” and that bond was expected to cover roughly 90% of the sidewalk work; she added the city has spent about $60,000 on engineering so far and that a contractor (Big Sky) had cleared a schedule to begin work.

Supporters of the agreement, including Council President Deb Rule, emphasized pedestrian safety…