Lands Official May Extend Comment On Jet Ski Dock

The public may get more time to comment about a proposed personal watercraft dock along the Coeur d’Alene boardwalk.

Monday was the deadline for people to comment on a request filed by Hagadone Hospitality for a 10-slip dock for personal watercraft along the west side of the public boardwalk.

The original request called for a dock near the entrance of The Coeur d’Alene Resort marina and a designated swimming area between the boardwalk and commercial dock.

However, Hagadone Hospitality changed the application last week, moving the proposed dock 660 feet further out into the lake.

Some 17 people sent in comments to the Idaho Department of Lands. Of those, 15 were opposed to the request and two were in favor.

Will Pitman, administrator of the Lake Protection Act, said most of the comments referred to the previous location.

“I want to extend (the comment period) because it’s a whole different ballgame,” said Pitman, referring to the dock’s new location.

Island Rentals currently tows a barge each day from inside of the marina out to the west edge of the boardwalk.

The application would simply allow Island Rentals to keep its dock in one place during the summer months.

Pitman did not say how much longer he would allow for public comments.

Monday also marked the deadline for comment for the city’s application for a dock permit for the new mooring docks next to the Third Street boat launch.

The state previously granted a dock permit to the city, but the city failed to notify Pitman when it changed the blueprints for the dock.

The new application, while filed after the fact, also includes the Coeur d’Alene City Council’s April decision to cut 13-feet off three, 38-foot legs of the mooring docks.

That council decision was made after Hagadone Hospitality secretary John Barlow complained that the new docks made it unsafe for private cruise boats to enter the harbor.

Barlow was the only person who sent a letter to the state commenting on the city’s dock request.

“The City has resisted previous attempts that we have made to further reduce this risk. This is probably due to the fact that the marina is already been installed and paid for,” Barlow wrote in a May 31 letter to the state. “It was also unfortunate that our concerns were not heard prior to the marina being permitted and prior to any review by all involved.”