Overflow crowd split on dock business request

By KEITH ERICKSON

Staff writer

Facing an outpouring of opposition, Kootenai County commissioners on Wednesday postponed action on a controversial request for a dock building business along a narrow and scenic stretch of Highway 97 on the eastern shore of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Citing concerns over the potential threat to wildlife, environmental havoc and traffic safety, opponents urged commissioners to deny a zone change request for North Idaho Maritime, which seeks to build a dock building company along the rural shore.

Proponents, however, including several well-known business leaders, argued the request is a suitable use proposed by a nearly century-old firm that has proven itself as a steward to the environment.

More than 150 people attended the meeting, which prompted fire marshals to request some citizens to stand in the hallway as they waited for a seat.

Kootenai Environmental Alliance volunteer Dennis Brueggemann told commissioners his concerns focused on the habitat that thrives in the area and the potential harm the business would impose.

“It’s a spawning bed for kokanee salmon and a feeding site for bald eagles,” he said. “This use would disrupt and potentially threaten this habitat.”

Like other opponents, Brueggemann also voiced concern over traffic.

“It’s narrow and unsafe for large commercial vehicles carrying barges,” he said.

Applicant John Condon said his firm has been looking for a site for the business for nearly 10 years and believes the Wolf Lodge area is the best fit and will not have an adverse impact on wildlife.

“There is no kokanee spawning habitat, it’s a mud flat,” he said. “And there will be no impact on bald eagles because there are not nests in this area.”

Opponent Jackie McNamera of Harrison said the requested zone change is not in the best interest of Kootenai County residents.

“This request is on a scenic byway that is home to bald eagles and the largest nesting osprey population in the western U.S.,” she said. “These things are now being threatened by a proposal by North Idaho Maritime to place a staging area for docks at this protected scenic byway.”

Government officials who spoke Wednesday had varying opinions on the proposal.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game has remained neutral, as has the Bureau of Land Management. The project site is not in the area where kokanee spawn, according to an IDFG letter filed with the county, although it is near spawning beds.