Sanders Beach Boat Dock Ok’D State Approves Private Dock In Area Used By Public For Swimming

The state has approved a request by Hagadone Hospitality co-owner Jerry Jaeger to build a 94-foot private boat dock at the east end of Sanders Beach.

Jaeger requested the dock near the 10,000-square-foot home he is building between the city-owned Jewett House and the private Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course.

“It was pretty black and white,” said Will Pitman, the Idaho Department of Lands official who approved the dock application. “It was one of the simpler ones we’ve ever dealt with.”

The Jaeger dock renewed the debate over Sanders Beach, which is privately owned but has been used by the public for more than 100 years.

Since the Jaeger request involved private property, Pitman was only required to notify adjoining landowners - the city of Coeur d’Alene and the state Transportation Department.

The City Council sent a letter, signed by Mayor Steve Judy, saying it would object if the dock “potentially endangered swimmers or presented an attractive nuisance to those who would use the existing public access.” The City Council letter also expressed concern “regarding what it feels is an excessive encroachment into the public waterway.”

Councilman Ron Edinger said he supported the letter objecting to the dock.

“I’m not surprised (Pitman) gave the permit,” Edinger said.

Edinger believes the Jaeger dock could make it easier for several other landowners to get docks along Sanders Beach.

The state has refused to consider those requests until the Idaho Supreme Court rules on a similar private dock request by Don Dupont on City Beach.

“I think it’s wrong if they grant those permits in areas that are designated for swimming,” Edinger said. “There have been people who swim down in that (Jaeger dock) area, but nothing compared to City Beach and further west on Sanders Beach.”

Pitman said the dock is about 600 feet east of the 150-foot zone where the city prohibits watercraft from operating next to swimming areas. Jaeger did not return a phone call to his office Monday afternoon.

Local attorney Chuck Sheroke has argued that Pitman should have notified the public so people could have commented on a dock that could change how they use the beach.

“Obviously motorboats and jet skis are going to impact the swimmers,” Sheroke said. “I thought the whole way this thing was handled was designed to prohibit public involvement.”

Deputy City Attorney Nancy Stricklin said last week that she does not think Jaeger’s dock will set a precedent for other landowners to follow.

Sheroke disagrees.

“If you want to keep Sanders open,” he said, “it’s a bad precedent.”

Thomas Clouse can be reached at (208) 765-7130 or by e-mail at tomc@spokesman.com.