The Bonner County Board of Commissioners will not decide the fate of the proposed Long Bridge Marina expansion this month after all. The board continued its hearing on the conditional use permit for the third time on Oct. 7, leaving the decision to a resumed hearing Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m.
The delay came at the request of the applicant, Long Bridge Land Holding Company, LLC, represented by HMH Engineering, which opted to wait until a full board could be seated following the absence of Commissioner Brian Domke.
The proposal covers the 45-slip marina at 41 Lakeshore Drive, on approximately two acres zoned Recreation. The property includes a single-family residence, two rental cabins, and a boat rental with a "snack shack." Under the plan, the existing 32-space parking lot would be reorganized, 47 new slips would be added to the marina, and the snack shack would be relocated to improve sightlines where Lakeshore Drive meets U.S. Highway 95.
If the commissioners approve the conditional use permit, the marina would grow to 92 total slips. The Idaho Department of Lands has separately granted the developers an encroachment permit that would ultimately allow a 268-slip marina — but engineer Dan Tadic told the board there is no current plan to expand to that extent, and any future growth would require an additional conditional use permit.
Public opposition has been vocal. The Bonner County Zoning Commission sided with opponents and denied the conditional use permit application, arguing that increased traffic at the U.S. 95 and Lakeshore intersection could create a hazard for drivers and pedestrians. The Idaho Transportation Department reports 11 crashes at that intersection in the past five years.
The Nov. 5 hearing gives commissioners their fourth look at the application, and gives opponents and supporters of the expansion one more month to make their case.