Letter To Sandpoint Mayor

from Darcy Chambers of Heaven The Spa

Tuesday, March 16, 2004

Dear Mr. Mayor, I am writing to you to voice my concerns about the placement of the Bypass down our beautiful Sandcreek. I feel strongly about the environment and am very concerned about the impact this project will have on the ecosystem of our habitat in Sandcreek. Not only will such a huge cement project be out of place visually and increase the noise of our downtown area, but this enormous construction project will devastate the natural balance of this natural wetland.

Many of us have are certain that this bypass will not be an adequate long term solution to handle traffic which will be coming to our area in the near future (based on the recent surge of properties sold over the past year in our county). I see now that the bypass has an additional lane, instead of the originally proposed single lane traffic in each direction, but is one additional lane of traffic enough for the next 10 years of growth projected for our area? Also, how will our newest long bridge be able to handle this increased traffic if we decide to route all heavy truck traffic down highway 95 to Coeur d'Alene for the next 10 years of projected growth? It seems to me that west of town is a much better solution and will save the state from having to help fund another bridge project in the not so near future.

Another concern is the rumor I have heard that Coldwater Creek is considering not renewing their lease for the Bridge due to this project. Downtown Sandpoint cannot afford to lose the Coldwater Creek Store on the Bridge in my opinion. It is a cornerstone for our business district.

It seems that the state is forcing our community to take immediate action and utilize the funds proposed for this project without having considered the consequences. Division Street is truly the best place for a bypass in my opinion and I know I am not the first person to mention this logic. Traffic could flow along from Ponderay and make an easy transition on the edge of town and not affect our most scenic areas along the Lake and Sandcreek. This will keep the noise level down in the downtown area where most of us are trying hard to set a high standard and visually improve the area. It will keep the higher priced property levels along the lake and estuary intact (and not lower it due to the increase noise level and decreased visual appeal). Traffic from the bypass if routed west of town could help pass "big rigs" through our state much easier, thereby saving our roads by having them quickly merge into the state of Washington. This would save traffic on our bridge too by using the newly paved highway 2.

I think the most important part of this project is to route the trucks out of our downtown area. And too, I am all for the bypass, but by putting the bypass in our downtown area you still keep the noise level high and have now made a mess of our most scenic view from downtown to City Beach. Too many cities and towns have made mistakes like this that they cannot change in hindsight. While there is still time I hope you will consider a different solution than the one you seem to only be considering now. Review the plans proposed by Joseph Wythe or other individuals and come up with something that works for everyone (and not just a few locals and the state).

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Darcy Chambers, Business Owner & Member of theSandpoint Chamber of Commerce

Cc: DSBA, Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce