In 2018, the Bonner County Commissioners approved the relocation of Interstate Asphalt from Sandpoint to the Linscott gravel pit in Sagle under file C1015-18. The Linscott property is located within 500 feet of residential homes and has faced public opposition since at least 1995. This relocation—moving an asphalt plant from an industrial zone to a rural zone—was only made possible by an illegal amendment to Title 12 of the Bonner County Revised Code. That amendment was later invalidated due to inadequate public notice and a misleading summary.

The public notice falsely stated the amendment was to “expand uses allowed in a gravel pit located in the industrial zone,” yet it ultimately allowed asphalt plants in rural, agricultural, and forest zones if a gravel pit was active—an alarming and unlawful change. This issue escalated all the way to the Idaho Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the Sagle community, affirming that the land had outgrown its nonconforming status and that an asphalt plant was not an extension of gravel pit use.

The Linscott gravel pit has been out of compliance with the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) since 1998. In 2016, the IDL sent a letter requiring a $248,000 reclamation bond—an order Linscott ignored while continuing to falsely claim only 30 acres were disturbed. Though Linscott faced up to $1.8 million in fines, the matter was settled for just $10,000, raising serious concerns about enforcement and accountability.

Originally grandfathered in 1981 at 18 acres, the Linscott pit is subject to Bonner County’s nonconforming use ordinance, which allows only a 10% expansion without a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and up to 50% with one. Today, the pit has grown by an estimated 250%–500% and still lacks a CUP. The disturbed area now exceeds 100 acres—all without proper permits.

Rather than apply for a CUP, the Linscotts and Peak Sand and Gravel pursued AM004-21, an amendment to the Bonner County Code that retroactively changed the law to allow quarry operations to expand to parcel boundaries—effectively rewriting regulations to benefit their own nonconforming pit.

The quarry has now been excavated so deeply that it has breached the aquifer, creating standing ponds and raising significant concern among neighboring homeowners about water quality and well contamination. The industrialization of this area, including the potential addition of an asphalt plant, is incompatible with rural residential character and poses serious threats to health, safety, and property values.

Studies show property values can drop by an average of 27% within a mile of an asphalt plant. Beyond financial losses, Sagle residents are justifiably concerned about exposure to asphalt fumes containing toxic chemicals and known carcinogens. The health and well-being of hundreds of families, as well as the surrounding wildlife, depend on clean air and water.

The relocation of Interstate Asphalt to the Linscott pit is not in the public interest, is not legal, and should never have been considered. This community will continue to oppose it—as we always have—to protect our land, homes, health, and the integrity of Bonner County.

Please check for updates to stay informed on what the County or the Linscotts may attempt next in their ongoing effort to permanently change the land for industrial use sign our petition please and updates will be sent when this site is updated. 

Recently the County is updating the Comprehensive Plan and is proposing adding The Linscott Pit 200+ acreage it be changed from rural 5 nonconforming land use to Mixed Use land use designation.  We believe this is an unlawful move toward more expansion and growth of the gravel pit which has been proven by all agencies to have grown 500% beyond what is legal.

These proposed changes for our Comprehensive Plan was influenced by the Linscotts who have participated on the Sagle sub Area Committee and who are currently on the Planning Commission, where they have been allowed to give input, comment and influence those who are on the commissions with them. 

Please see our many updates since this started in 2018.