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Council adopts residential zoning ordinance changes under suspension of rules
Summary
Council approved an ordinance repealing and replacing elements of Sandpoint City Code (Title 9 Chapter 1 Section 3; Title 9 Chapter 4 sections) to update residential zoning; the adoption occurred after deliberation and a roll call, with some councilors recording No votes earlier in the process.
The council voted to adopt an ordinance that replaces portions of Sandpoint’s residential zoning code.
Mayor Grama asked the clerk to read the ordinance title; the ordinance repeals and replaces Sandpoint City Code Title 9 Chapter 1 Section 3 and Title 9 Chapter 4 Sections 1–6, and provides severability and an effective date. Councilors confirmed this action was a technical step to codify changes they had previously approved on Jan. 21 and asked staff to clarify how the ordinance aligns with earlier votes.
During deliberations, some councilors reiterated concerns about the ordinance’s relationship to stormwater infrastructure capacity and whether amendments would meaningfully advance workforce housing. City staff explained that the ordinance consolidates impervious-surface definitions and, in some zones (RM), increases allowable impervious surface by five percentage points while generally providing flexibility to allow alternative building configurations without increasing overall impervious cover.
Council approved first reading by title and subsequently suspended the rules to pass second and third readings; roll call tallies are recorded in the official minutes. Several council members used the deliberation to restate their positions before the final action.
Next steps: the ordinance summary will be published and the municipal code updated; staff will return with any implementation guidance and stormwater considerations as required.
