City to host public meeting on proposed downtown zone changes
February 16, 2026
By Reader Staff
The Sandpoint Planning and Community Development Department will host a public meeting to review amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance that would create two new downtown districts, as well as a historic overlay.
Downtown business and property owners, as well as members of the public, are invited to participate in the meeting scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19 from 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. at the Marigold Bistro (located inside the Columbia Bank Building at 414 Church St.), which is intended to provide Sandpoint planning staff with input early in the process that can be used to help inform the Planning and Zoning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission and City Council.
The council is not expected to decide how — or whether — to adopt changes to the code later in the year.
A map highlighting the city of Sandpoint’s proposed creation of two downtown districts, as well as a historic overlay. Image courtesy of city of Sandpoint
Current planning efforts related to downtown zoning stem from the Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in 2024 and identifies several goals, including “strengthening economic vitality, reinforcing community character, enhancing placemaking, supporting historic preservation, improving walkability and guiding urban form.”
City planners have been working with P&Z and the Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Commission to craft new commercial zoning regulations aimed at approaching those goals.
For those unable to attend in person, a follow-up survey will be distributed to collect additional feedback. Further discussion of the proposed zoning amendments will be on the agenda at upcoming P&Z meetings, held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers (1123 Lake St.). Meeting agendas are posted in advance and available at sandpointidaho.gov/calendar.
To review the most recent discussion of the zoning amendments presented at the Feb. 3 P&Z meeting, go to the city of Sandpoint’s YouTube channel.
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