Dear Friends and Neighbors,
County Commissioners will be having a workshop on July 31st at 9am to hear from locals and their concerns about proposals for the newly written Comprehensive Plan proposed changes.
This is one of the last chances to act and be heard!!It will be at 1500 HW-2, Sandpoint, Gov Building.
An official hearing will follow in Aug but why wait to tell them to STOP and DONT allow The Linscott Pit to be changed to MIXED USE.
We need your voice. A massive land use change is happening in our backyard — and your property value, health, and legal rights are at risk.
The Linscott gravel pit in Sagle, a nonconforming use that has long been grandfathered in under strict limitations, is being proposed for a land use designation change to “Mixed Use.” This is a dangerous way to change land use without notification of a zone change that is required by law.
🔴 Here’s What You Need to Know:
1. Nonconforming Use Protections Are at Risk - gone completely if changed to mixed-use for the pit.
The Linscott pit was grandfathered in decades ago (1981) as a nonconforming use, meaning it was allowed to continue only under tight limitations.
Bonner County Code §12-340 and §12-341 clearly state that nonconforming uses cannot be expanded, intensified, or extended — and cannot justify additional uses or structures not already permitted.
Changing the land use to Mixed Use will nullify these protections and allow the pit to expand further, violating the spirit and letter of the law.
2. The Linscotts Have Already Exceeded Legal Limits
According to county records and testimony, the pit expanded more than 500% beyond what was originally allowed under its grandfathered status.
Rather than being held accountable, gravel pit owners across the county lobbied to change the code to retroactively allow expansion, which our attorney felt was unlawful — rewarding violations instead of enforcing the law.
3. Conflict of Interest and Ethics Violations Matt Linscott, a direct family member of the pit’s owners, was appointed to the Planning Commission — and has been advocating for changes that would benefit his own family’s property. His brother Mark Linscott sat on the Sagle Sub Area Committee which he constantly advocated for the gravel pit and the best locations for transitional zones - which are now being called Mixed use.
Idaho law and the Planning and Zoning Handbook caution against any appointed official discussing or influencing decisions involving their own land or family’s property.
This is not just about “voting” — it’s about discussions, influence, insider access, and helping steer policy in private interest. NOT LEGAL UNDER OUR LAWS.
4. This Change Was NOT Properly Noticed
Unlike past attempts to install an asphalt plant — which required legal notice,hearings, and neighbor input — this land use change was buried inside a Comprehensive Plan map change, which many residents never heard about, or didn't understand could change their neighborhood, their homes and their lives.
Idaho law requires meaningful public participation in land use decisions — and most neighbors near the pit had no idea this change was being proposed until it was nearly finalized, because its being marketed as comprehensive plan change and not a zone change, but the ramifications of this are still the same. Drop in property value along with changes to the land use next to our homes.
5. The “Mixed Use” Label is Too Broad and Dangerous
“Mixed Use” allows everything from residential to heavy industrial, including asphalt plants, batch plants, commercial trucking, and high-density development.
The Linscott property is over 240 acres. If changed to Mixed Use, it could house industrial operations or dense housing units — devastating property values and changing the rural character of our community.
6. This Change Threatens Property Values and Quality of Life
Property values around this pit could plummet due to noise, dust, heavy traffic, and environmental impacts.
Multiple neighbors have health concerns, especially from formaldehyde and fumes from the asphalt plant when it was temporarily allowed.
What’s next? If this pit changes to Mixed Use, it opens the door for dozens of other rural properties to follow.
7. Many Letters Were Written – But the Commissioners Never Saw Them
Dozens of letters opposing this change were sent — but they only went to the Planning Commission, not the County Commissioners, who make the final decision.
Now is the time for the Commissioners to hear directly from us — the community. ✍ What You Can Do:
Write a short letter or email to the Bonner County Commissioners TODAY. Even 3–5 sentences expressing your concern can make a huge difference.
📧 Email all three commissioners at once:
Asia Williams — Asia.Williams@bonnercountyid.gov
Brian Domke — Brian.Domke@bonnercountyid.gov
Ron Korn — Ron.Korn@bonnercountyid.gov
Add planning@bonnercountyid.gov To get on record
SUBJECT: OPPOSE CHANGES TO SAGLE LINSCOTT GRAVEL PIT Or something similar
✅ Suggested Talking Points for Your Letter even a single line email will help.
Feel free to use your own words, but here are some sample phrases you can copy:
• “I am writing to oppose any land use designation change from Rural 5 to Mixed Use for the Linscott gravel pit in Sagle.”
• “Changing this nonconforming use to Mixed Use eliminates vital legal protections and invites expanded industrial activity in a rural neighborhood.”
• “The Linscott gravel pit has already exceeded legal expansion limits by 500%, and now they seek further growth under new zoning.”
• “Planning commissioners should not be allowed to influence changes that directly benefit their family’s property. This is a serious ethical conflict.”
• “This land use change was not properly noticed to the surrounding community, which violates the spirit of due process under Idaho law.”
• “Mixed Use zoning allows heavy industrial activity — which would permanently harm our property values, health, and rural lifestyle.”
Be sure to sign your name, share with neighbors to get them to write and also mention you are Bonner County Resident when signing or writing letter.
Please share this with friends, neighbors, and community members. This is our chance to stand up for our rights, our homes, and our community.
If you have questions or comments please contact us at
nosagleasphaltplant@gmail.com
If you need some information about Supreme Court decisions or want to know more here are a lot of documents to help. our website