Sandpoint hires planning chief

SANDPOINT – Driving through downtown, one can’t help but notice several real estate offices, new construction and refurbishing of older buildings.

In residential neighborhoods of Sandpoint, new housing developments are visible in every direction.

All of the construction reflects an effort to accommodate a growing population in this resort town nestled between the mountains and Lake Pend Oreille.

Naturally, the duties of the city’s planning director have grown substantially. Until earlier this month, those duties fell to Will Herrington, who also oversees the city’s legal department. But Herrington said he was not able to manage adequately both entities with all the growth that’s happening.

“There is a fair amount (of work) on the horizon, particularly with the University of Idaho and North Idaho College planning developments in Sandpoint,” he said.

The City Council listened and recently hired Jeremy Grimm as the new planning director.

“Jeremy has different talents that we will be able to use,” said Kim Woodruff, director of Sandpoint’s Parks and Recreation Department.

Originally from Massachusetts, Grimm most recently was an assistant to the mayor of Buffalo, Wyo., a town of about 4,500 people. “It allowed me to further develop my skills in planning and public works,” he said.

Grimm, who has college degrees in geomorphology and community planning and development, oversaw $25 million in public improvement projects while in Buffalo.

His biggest challenge as Sandpoint’s planning director will be to ensure that the new residents pay their fair share of the costs of growth, he said. Growth brings greater demand for city services that ultimately can cost the taxpayers a lot of money if those costs are not accounted for, Grimm added.

“If the leaders are not aware, our long-term residents may end up paying,” he said. “But at the same time it can make affordable housing a challenge.”

If impact fees for new development are so high they create a barrier to affordable housing, that will push most new development outside city limits, where there may be no zoning or code restrictions, he said.

“You may see development occur in places you do not want it to,” Grimm said.

Considering the wilderness and beauty of the area surrounding Sandpoint, residents won’t want to see a surge in new homes and developments in remote areas, he explained.

To address this and other growth issues, Grimm hopes to work closely with Bonner County commissioners. “We want to ensure we have work force housing, and at the same time cover costs associated with growth in the community,” he said.

He also will work closely with the Bonner Business Center and the Economic Development Corporation. “A lot of success from their hard work has already come to fruition,” Grimm said.

Residents appear to be concerned about the rapid growth in and around Sandpoint, he said, and Grimm hopes that interest will stimulate feedback from the community

“There are so many opportunities to do things and get involved,” he said.

While some may see growth as negative, if the cost is kept under control growth will benefit the community, he said.

“There is an old adage: If you aren’t growing, you are dying,” he said. “So during the down times you also need to add incentives to stimulate growth.”

The father of a 13-month-old son, Grimm said he and his wife enjoy the outdoors and the opportunities Sandpoint offers. “I always thought that if I do a good job and live a good life, I would be able to live in an exceptional community.”