Click this link to optimize Open Town Hall for screen readers Skip to Content
Open Town Hall
Opengov
Housing & Neighborhooods

Please share your thoughts on Sandpoint housing and neighborhoods to inform our Comprehensive Plan Update.

This topic is closed

Click Summary, then click on options below to form the filter, then click Apply Filter

65 registered responses


Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are currently allowed as accessory to detached single family dwellings with a size limit of 900 sq.ft., one bedroom and one parking space, in addition to other restrictions in City Code. https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sandpointid/latest/sandpoint_id/0-0-0-5220

Response Percent Response Count
I SUPPORT current ADU regulations 42.2% 27
I DO NOT SUPPORT current ADU regulations 3.1% 2
I SUPPORT incentives to encourage ADU construction or conversions of existing accessory buildings (i.e. garages) into ADUs. 42.2% 27
I DO NOT SUPPORT incentives to encourage ADU construction or conversions of existing accessory buildings (i.e. garages) into ADUs. 26.6% 17
I SUPPORT CHANGES to ADU regulations. Please indicate changes in next question. 26.6% 17

If you support changes to ADU regulations, please indicate what changes you would like to see below.

Answered
28
Skipped
37

Would you support a change to the Sandpoint City Code that would allow for smaller lot sizes than currently allowed to provide more housing options (i.e. townhouses or other fee simple attached single family units or smaller detached homes).

Response Percent Response Count
No, I do not support lot sizes smaller than current code allows 50 ft. wide/5,000 square feet 44.6% 29
Yes, I support smaller lot sizes to create more housing options 33.8% 22
Not sure, I need more information. 9.2% 6
Other 12.3% 8

Image 1:

Response Percent Response Count
Support 35.5% 22
Do Not Support 64.5% 40

Image 2:

Response Percent Response Count
Support 57.1% 36
Do Not Support 42.9% 27

Image 3:

Response Percent Response Count
Support 53.1% 34
Do Not Support 46.9% 30

Image 4:

Response Percent Response Count
Support 73.4% 47
Do Not Support 26.6% 17

Image 5:

Response Percent Response Count
Support 67.2% 43
Do Not Support 32.8% 21

Image 6:

Response Percent Response Count
Support 56.3% 36
Do Not Support 43.8% 28

What would improve your neighborhood?

Answered
56
Skipped
9

What do you like best about your neighborhood?

Answered
54
Skipped
11

Using the numbered areas in the map above, identify where you live in Sandpoint. If you do not live in Sandpoint city limits, please select the city or area in which you live.

Response Percent Response Count
Area 2 3.1% 2
Area 3 3.1% 2
Area 4 13.8% 9
Area 5 27.7% 18
Area 6 3.1% 2
Area 7 4.6% 3
Area 8 12.3% 8
Area 9 13.8% 9
Sagle 3.1% 2
Bonner County 12.3% 8
None of the above 3.1% 2

Tell us a little about your relationship with the City of Sandpoint. Select as many as apply.

Response Percent Response Count
I live in Sandpoint 80.0% 52
I work in Sandpoint 40.0% 26
I'm a student in Sandpoint 1.5% 1
I'm retired in Sandpoint 30.8% 20
I often visit Sandpoint 12.3% 8
I own property in Sandpoint other than my residence. 23.1% 15
I have a business interest or am looking to do business in Sandpoint 16.9% 11
Other 12.3% 8

What is your age?

Response Percent Response Count
20 - 29 3.1% 2
30 - 39 16.9% 11
40 - 49 16.9% 11
50 - 59 15.4% 10
60 - 69 27.7% 18
70 or older 20.0% 13
Name not shown inside the County of Bonner
January 6, 2023, 7:14 AM
  • Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are currently allowed as accessory to detached single family dwellings with a size limit of 900 sq.ft., one bedroom and one parking space, in addition to other restrictions in City Code. https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/sandpointid/latest/sandpoint_id/0-0-0-5220
    • I SUPPORT CHANGES to ADU regulations. Please indicate changes in next question.
  • If you support changes to ADU regulations, please indicate what changes you would like to see below.

    I think there should be incentives for creating long term rental opportunities. By this I mean if you're going to incentivize something, incentivize the creation of an adu for a rental term of at least 6 months in length. This will continue to help build communities. Airbnbs do not create community and may do the opposite.

  • Would you support a change to the Sandpoint City Code that would allow for smaller lot sizes than currently allowed to provide more housing options (i.e. townhouses or other fee simple attached single family units or smaller detached homes).
    • Other - No, Your mixing issues here. You'll end up with spot zoning. You may as well throw the comp plan out. I would support smaller lot sizes that followed the same requirements for that zone. Not the creation of apartments in traditional single family.
  • Image 1:
    • Do Not Support
  • Image 2:
    • Support
  • Image 3:
    • Support
  • Image 4:
    • Do Not Support
  • Image 5:
    • Support
  • Image 6:
    • Support
  • What would improve your neighborhood?

    The creation of a single arterial for the Sagle traffic trying to go west thru town. Current plan isn't working. This thru traffic speeds and darts everywhere through South Sandpoint.

  • What do you like best about your neighborhood?

    It's quiet, I know all my neighbors, there are not a lot of vacation rentals in my neighborhood, and it's relatively safe to enjoy a walk on the streets due to low vehicle traffic.

  • Using the numbered areas in the map above, identify where you live in Sandpoint. If you do not live in Sandpoint city limits, please select the city or area in which you live.
    • Area 9
  • Tell us a little about your relationship with the City of Sandpoint. Select as many as apply.
    • I live in Sandpoint
    • I work in Sandpoint
    • I own property in Sandpoint other than my residence.
    • I have a business interest or am looking to do business in Sandpoint
  • What is your age?
    • 60 - 69
Open Town Hall is not a certified voting system or ballot box. As with any public comment process, participation in Open Town Hall is voluntary. The responses in this record are not necessarily representative of the whole population, nor do they reflect the opinions of any government agency or elected officials.

Your answers will NOT be saved

This is the form that was used to collect responses. It's here so you can try it and see how it worked when the topic was open.

The topic is now closed, and anything you enter into this form will not be saved.

Sign in and be yourself

Sign in and let others know who you are and what you think. You can sign in now or after you submit your response. You'll be able to read your response on this website and change it if you change your mind.

Read more about privacy >

Sign in and be someone

Sign in and let others know what you think. Only OpenGov will know who you are. You can sign in now or after you submit your response. You'll be able to read your response on this website and change it if you change your mind.

Read more about privacy >
* required

Be anonymous

Even though your response will be shared with staff, it won’t be shown on this public website so other community members won’t have the opportunity to see it.

Concerned about sharing your contact information with OpenGov?

Read more about privacy >

Read more about privacy >

What are my options to participate?

Open Town Hall has two participation channels:

  • The Registered Channel: Sign in before or just after you submit your response. Either way, Community Feedback will show your response on this website.
  • The Unregistered Channel: Don't sign in and remain anonymous. Community Feedback will just share your response with Sandpoint staff.

Note: The first time you sign in, you'll need to register (establish an account on Open Town Hall). Registration is free.

Why do I need to sign in to show my response on this website?

The City of Sandpoint has contracted with Community Feedback to monitor responses shown on this website.

  • To prevent any single user from dominating the forum, the City of Sandpoint restricts the number of responses any one user can post on selected topics. Registration helps Community Feedback enforce this restriction.
  • Users, staff and government leaders often want to know the neighborhood from which a response is posted. Community Feedback uses registration to show the neighborhood next to each response (not the address).
  • If a user posts a response that does not meet the City of Sandpoint guidelines for civility, Community Feedback uses the user's email address to invite the user to resolve the issue.
I'm concerned about privacy. Who will get my contact information and what will they use it for?

Community Feedback will get your contact information. The company is under contract with the City of Sandpoint to hold it in strict confidence per their privacy policy.

What other benefits do I get from signing in?
  • Since you'll see your own response on Open Town Hall, you'll be able to confirm that your response was posted as you intended.
  • You'll be able to change and/or delete your response as long as the topic is open.
I'm still very concerned about privacy. Is there a way for me to submit a response without registering?

Yes. Sign out, then set your privacy preference to be "No - just show it without my name to staff". You won't need to register.

What prevents an unregistered user from submitting multiple anonymous responses?

While no authentication procedure can perfectly detect every fraudulent registration, Community Feedback is able to secure the registered channel against systematic fraud: cases where users submit enough statements with fraudulent registrations to sway the overall interpretation of the feedback.

Community Feedback is unable to secure the unregistered channel against systematic fraud, because unregistered users are anonymous.

Neither the registered nor the unregistered channel represent a certified voting system or ballot box - and that caveat is footnoted on every page of feedback. Instead, both are additional channels for feedback to government.

Why are there two participation channels?

Users can participate on the registered channel (by signing in) or on the unregistered channel (by remaining anonymous). The City of Sandpoint offers both channels in order to broaden participation and maximize decision makers' insights.

The registered channel enables users to assure decision makers that their feedback comes from a real person in a specific neighborhood. It also enables users to participate in a public discussion on the website, as well as manage their own response after posting it.

The unregistered channel is for users who want to provide quick feedback without registering, and/or whose privacy concerns would prevent them from participating if required to register. Because many users with valuable insights will only share them anonymously, this channel gives decision makers the option to consider those insights in their deliberations.

What is OpenGov?

OpenGov is a non-partisan company whose mission is to broaden civic engagement and build public trust in government. The City of Sandpoint has contracted with OpenGov to administer Open Town Hall.

ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS (ADUs)

For information about current regulations on ADUs in Sandpoint City Code, please click here

RESIDENTIAL LOTS SIZES

Sandpoint has a large number of lots that were platted prior to 1980 and had a width of 25 feet and depth of 142 feet (3,550 sq.ft) known as "Substandard Original Lots of Record "

Current code requirements state that lots must have a minimum width of 50 feet and minimum area of 5,000 square feet.  Below are illustrations of  the current lot size standard and the Substandard Original Lots of Record. 

INFILL HOUSING

In the following six (6) questions, please indicate whether you would support infill housing similar to what is shown in the image in one or more of Sandpoint's neighborhoods.  This information will inform future zoning code discussions and updates.

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

* required
* required
* required
Check out our guidelines for civility

Fields marked with * are required

Back to Intro