Cda Developer Has Plans For Popular Sanders Beach Condo Idea Inflames Neighbors, Reignites Lakefront Rights Battle

A lakefront property owner proposes to build two or three condominium units at the water’s edge on what is now Sanders Beach.

The controversial plan, submitted Tuesday to Coeur d’Alene planners, would block land entrance to the popular swimming and sunbathing spot and could reopen a bitter feud over beach access.

“It makes me sick,” said 12th Street resident Judy Johnson. “It’s a terrible, terrible idea.”

The proposal also raises new questions about lakefront property rights in the wake of a landmark court decision.

At least one city councilwoman already is trying to gauge taxpayer interest in buying the beach.

“Let’s at least get an appraisal and find out what it would cost,” Councilwoman Nancy Sue Wallace said Tuesday.

It’s not clear, however, if the builder really wants the condos on the beach, or if he’s trying to strong-arm city leaders into letting him build elsewhere.

All East Lakeshore Drive landowner Joe Chapman said of his beach proposal is “it’s not necessarily what I want to do, but I will if I have to.”

Chapman, owner of Chapman Designs and Henry’s restaurant, proposed erecting the condos in a two-story, 7,000-square-foot-plus building between the south side of East Lakeshore and the water.

City planners will meet with Chapman this week to review the plans, but already see problems.

The proposal appears to violate shoreline rules requiring construction take place 40 feet from Lake Coeur d’Alene’s elevation of 2,128 feet - about a foot below the current waterline, said Planning Director Dave Yadon.

Chapman, however, said that rule was predicated on 2,128 feet being the boundary between public and private ownership of the lakebed.

“That’s no longer the case,” he said.

In a case involving a man-made island in Kidd Island Bay, Judge Craig Kosonen last month ruled that state ownership ends at 2,121 feet. That would mean Chapman’s land - and that of all Lakeshore Drive owners - stretches another 100 yards or so into the water.

City officials say the ramifications of that ruling are still in question and the state is expected to appeal it.

But Chapman is prepared: He has retained attorney Ed Anson, one of two who won the Kidd Island Bay case.

“I’m willing to take this as far as I need to,” he said.

Current plans also call for using fill to raise the beach area, which now lies several feet below a seawall that splits his property in half.

That would cut the remaining beach off from public access at 12th Street. That has some area neighbors angry and fearful.

“We’re going to completely lose that beach,” said Chris Taylor, who rents a house across the street.

Some residents recalled the tense neighborhood battle in 1992 - when Roland and Beatrice Almgren put up a “no trespassing” sign on the beach and had a sunbather arrested. They fear this plan would instigate a similar fight.

“It’s a terrible bag of worms,” said a Chapman neighbor, who refused to give his name.

But Steve Seitz, the project engineer, said Chapman knew exactly what he was getting into.

“Classically, it’s been a shared beach,” Seitz said. “Now everybody’s property’s been extended. Joe just saw his window of opportunity and took it.”

, DataTimes