A 15.6-acre parcel on the Hope Peninsula will undergo zoning review after a request to reclassify it from rural residential to recreation use reached the Bonner County planning process. The Bonner County Zoning Commission has scheduled a public hearing for July 23 at 5:30 p.m. to examine the proposal.
Stonehedge Partners LLC filed the zoning change application through Jeremy Grimm of Whiskey Rock Planning and Consulting. The property currently carries Rural 5 zoning, which restricts development to low-density residential and agricultural purposes. The company seeks to reclassify the land as a recreation zone, a designation that would permit housing, commercial or private resort development, or conservation-oriented projects—provided recreational activities are incorporated into any future use.
Alignment With County Plan
According to the county’s Comprehensive Plan, the area already carries a recreation community designation. Grimm characterized the zoning request as a correction rather than a policy shift, stating that the application represents “a necessary, proactive step to legally harmonize the property’s zoning map with the county’s own adopted long-term vision.”
The parcel sits on wetlands and functions as an active wildlife nesting ground near Sam Owen Park. Any development would remain subject to county environmental standards, including a mandatory 40-foot shoreline setback from Lake Pend Oreille.
No Development Plan Released
Stonehedge Partners has not publicly announced a specific development proposal for the site. The zoning change would establish the legal framework for future projects but does not commit the company to any particular use.
Local residents have raised questions about the property’s future on social media, though no organized opposition has been formally documented in county records ahead of the hearing. The July 23 meeting will allow community members to comment on the proposal before the Zoning Commission votes on a recommendation.
What Comes Next: The Zoning Commission will hear public testimony on July 23 and vote on whether to recommend the zoning change to the Bonner County Board of Commissioners. If approved at that level, the full commission would conduct a final hearing and vote. The timeline for county commission action remains unclear.