Hearing on proposed Long Bridge Marina expansion set for Nov. 5
November 4, 2026
By Soncirey Mitchel Reader Staff
After continuing its hearing on the proposed Long Bridge Marina expansion for the third time, the Bonner County Board of Commissioners will meet to deliberate on the development on Thursday, Nov. 5.
Commissioners previously continued the meeting to request a traffic study and then to ensure all three members were present for deliberation.
The public can attend the 10 a.m. meeting either in person at the Bonner County Administration Building (1500 U.S. 2, in Sandpoint) or online via Zoom at bonnercountyid.gov/meetings; however, the commissioners will not accept any additional public comment.
The current 45-slip marina sits at 41 Lakeshore Drive at the intersection of Lakeshore and U.S. Highway 95 on approximately two acres zoned Recreation. Developers Long Bridge Land Holding Company, LLC, filed for a conditional use permit that would add 47 slips to the marina, reorganize its existing 32-space parking lot and relocate the property’s snack shack, leaving an on-site single-family residence and two rental cabins as-is.
Though the current CUP would only expand the marina to 92 slips, the Idaho Department of Lands has granted developers an encroachment permit to ultimately construct a 268-slip marina, which would require additional lot modifications, including a parking lot expansion to the opposite side of Lakeshore Drive. According to HMH Engineer Dan Tadic, representing the developers, there is “no current plan” to expand the marina to that extent, and any future growth would require an additional CUP.
The current marina near the south end of the Long Bridge. Photo by Ben Olson
The Bonner County Zoning Commission denied the CUP application, citing the potential hazard of increased traffic at the already notorious intersection, complicated by the marina’s driveway. The Bonner County Road Standards Manual requires that “[w]henever possible, no new access on collectors or arterial roads shall be located within 330 feet of an existing access, or the intersection of two public road rights-of-way.”
The county previously granted a variance for the marina’s driveway, leaving the existing access at just 107 feet from the intersection.
According to the Idaho Transportation Department, the intersection has seen 11 crashes in the past five years.
Following the denial, applicants worked with ITD and Bonner County Road and Bridge to mitigate safety concerns. ITD further installed flexible bollards at the intersection during that time, restricting left turns off of Lakeshore and directing traffic to a median U-turn — or J-turn — farther south on the highway.
Due to the proximity of the commercial driveway to the intersection, ITD Program Manager Robert Beachler concluded at the Oct. 7 hearing that though the existing driveway “does not meet standard,” ITD did “not feel [the marina’s potential traffic increase] would have a significant change on that safety evaluation for the Lakeshore-95 intersection.”
“I concur with [HMH Engineering’s] conclusions that no additional safety or capacity improvements are necessary at this time for the current phase of the expanded use of the marina,” stated Road and Bridge Director Matt Mulder. “We will want to reevaluate for safety concerns of any future phases.”
The commissioners heard public comment and rebuttals during the prior installments of the public hearing, and have officially closed the comment period for board deliberation at Thursday’s hearing.
To view the complete application, visit bonnercountyid.gov/departments/Planning.
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