PRIEST LAKE, Idaho -- A battle over land is heating up in North Idaho. Bishop's Marina wants the county to give up a public beach area next to it in a land swap deal. But some people are against it.
The area of land is a very popular spot for launching boats. Right now Bonner County owns a portion of the land on the lake where neighbors can park and launch their boats. But in a proposed land swap, Bishop's Marina would give the county a piece of land equal in size near the boat launch in exchange for property on the lake. Bishop's Marina wants to pave the area and put in parking spaces. Some say the improvements would be good. Others say the marina is trying to work the county over.
"The property doesn't even belong to them yet they have already landscaped it but it belongs to the county. It's 30 feet of lakefront property that sells for up to $9,000 dollars a foot on Priest lake. They want to trade it for a piece of dirt way back away from the lake," said Carol Nicholson who is against the land trade.
But some others see it differently.
"It's going to create more parking for the public. It's going to be paved so it will be less dust up in the area. Right now people just park wherever and there is no semblance of order," said Teri Akins who is in support of the trade.
Bishop's Marina owners say they want the land so they can have better access and use their property. The marina says if they are allowed to do work on the property, it will be more attractive and parking will be more organized. The public would also be allowed to use that boat launch.
There will be a public hearing on the issue in Sandpoint on Wednesday, August 11 at 1:00 p.m.
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