Disputed permit returns to P&Z
COOLIN — A sharply contested conditional use permit for a boat storage business at Priest Lake is going back before the Bonner County Planning & Zoning Commission.
The commission is meeting on Thursday, Aug. 17, to consider a modification to landowner Bruce French’s permit for Coolin Marine. The hearing is slated to start at 5:30 p.m. at the Bonner County Administration Building at the corner of U.S. Highway 2 and Division Avenue in Sandpoint.
The permit amendment would allow French to use a parcel for access to the business. The modification would also prohibit French from using Highland Drive for access to the business, according to the permit application.
The conditional use permit is being sought in conjunction with a pending zone change that would recast 1.4 acres from suburban to rural service center.
Coolin Marine and the permit and zone change requests have been a source of struggle dating back to the summer of 2016, when French cleared trees from the lot currently proposed for road access and began storing boat trailers before securing permit approval.
Neighbors strongly objected to the commercial use of a parcel that was zoned suburban and a zoning violation was investigated, according to Planning Department records. They also accused French of violating the subdivision’s creeds, covenants and restrictions, although county officials said they to not enforce CC&Rs because they are within the realm of civil litigation.
Opponents of the permit and rezone contend that the county trampled their property rights in order to honor French’s.
“In one day, he stripped our property of sound proofing, dust protection, future desirability and enjoyment of our property, a reduction in the price and saleability of our property and much more,” Charles and Judy Willits said in a letter distributed to county and state officials, including Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter.
The Bonner County Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of the original permit in February and county commissioners took up the rezone request in May. However, French offered to modify the permit to prohibit the use of Highland Drive in response to neighbors objections.
The county commission is expected to resume consideration of the rezone request after P&Z acts on the permit modification, county records show.