Redevelopment vision emerges for long-abandoned mill site

The Bonners Ferry Planning and Zoning Commission agreed to recommend a new city zoning map to the City Council April 17 that would convert the 80-acre industrial lot behind the Boundary County Fairgrounds into a mixed-use zone.

The new zoning district would allow a mix of retail, public recreation, and housing — including the possibility of townhomes and cottage housing — in the large space near downtown Bonners Ferry that has been abandoned for several decades. 

North Idaho Classical Academy, scheduled to open fall 2026, is expected to anchor the redevelopment. By April 30, NICA administrators intend to sign a purchase and sale agreement of the site’s old planer building and a five-acre parcel on the east side of the lot, said Jacob Francom, NICA principal. 

“We’re hoping the school is the start to making the area a community hub,” Francom said. “If all goes well, we’ll close on the property in the summertime, and construction will start in late August.” 

Redevelopment snags 

Aside from the new school, it may take years for other redevelopment on the rest of the lot to be realized.  

Most of the property belongs to Idaho Forest Group owner Marc Brinkmeyer; however, both the city and the county each own a parcel inside the proposed mixed-use zone as well. And BNSF Railway owns two large strips of land that run through the zone where railroads formerly existed. To sell off parcels to private developers, the zoning district will likely need to come under singular ownership. 

From there, Brinkmeyer and his IFG team will have to commission a two-phase environmental assessment once they secure buyers for any parcels of the former IFG mill. 

The 80-acre vacant lot behind the county fairgrounds is one of the few area properties with adequate utilities for a full industrial zone, with water and sewer hookups provided by the city.Francom said the phase one assessment of the Classical Academy parcel showed “no red flags,” and phase two is underway. 

But the other end of the vacant lot may face environmental setbacks. Historic photos and use indicate the west end of the property saw greater industrial use as a chip plant and wood waste site. 

Long-term possibilities 

Though possibly a years-long process, the P&Z commission touted the prospect of creating a bustling mixed-use zone, comparing its potential at the April 17 public hearing to the North End neighborhood in Boise, with historic charm, affordable housing, recreation opportunities and easy access to downtown. 

Numerous land use proposals have been floated, including an IFG plan that redirects Riverside Road away from the Kootenai River to free up space for a scenic, publicly available walking and biking trail. 

But until a developer purchases the land, its actual use — beyond the broad possibilities offered in the mixed-use zone — can only be speculated. 

“Housing down there would be nice,” Francom said. “The school will be a pretty big buffer zone between the noise from the fairgrounds and any residents in the area.”

Public debates high-density housing

At the P&Z public hearing, numerous Boundary County residents — though they agreed that the lot should be redeveloped — pushed back on the potential for high-density housing. 

One commentor said the fairgrounds present a rivaling use to possible residents. Another voiced opposition to cottage homes and townhouses because they detract from the aesthetic and charm of the neighboring homes and downtown. 

“I’ve seen those types of homes built in Sandpoint and to me, it takes away completely from the community,” said one opposer. 

But the demand for rentals in Bonners Ferry and Boundary County remains high, with all 32 units from a new South Hill development, listed in January, already filled. 

“There’s a lot of density coming, and the county doesn’t want to change much,” Scott Bourassa, a local developer who provides affordable housing, said at the hearing. “I see campers on the streets. We need to address it faster than it comes.” 

The push for high-density, affordable living has been even more visible in Sandpoint, where the City Council gave preliminary approval on April 16 for a 57-unit townhome project on a 4.1-acre parcel near single-family homes — despite strong public opposition. According to city records, 52 of 56 comments opposed the development.   

While many objections to Sandpoint’s Ridley Village Court stem from unique local factors, one concern could also surface in Bonners Ferry as plans for its mixed-use zone move forward. 

The Sandpoint development is located near Forest M. Bird Charter School, and many opposers said the increased traffic by hundreds of cars will present a danger to schoolchildren crossing nearby roads. A similar point of contention could arise if a Bonners Ferry developer proposes dense housing near North Idaho Classical Academy. 

In addition to traffic concerns, many Sandpoint residents said the new housing would “destroy the lifestyle and the peace and quiet” of the neighborhood. 

Despite similar housing concerns in Bonners Ferry, many agree the 80-acre vacant lot should be developed rather than left abandoned. 

Though a high-density neighborhood might bring some noise, the alternative is to leave the area zoned industrial — potentially paving the way for a return to uses like the constant din and racket of the old chip plant that once coated the area in sawdust.