Master planning is essential for guiding the growth and development of a city, ensuring that it remains a vibrant, sustainable, and livable place for all. The City of Sandpoint's Community Master Plans serve as strategic roadmaps that address key areas like infrastructure, recreation, transportation, environmental stewardship, and economic development. These plans are developed through a collaborative process involving input from residents, stakeholders, and city staff to reflect the community’s needs and aspirations. From the Urban Forestry Management Plan to the Water System Master Plan, this page provides access to a broad range of plans that collectively shape the future of Sandpoint.
City Council's adopted 2022-2027 Strategic Plan outlines a vision for a thriving, resilient, and sustainable future. Built on five core pillars—Responsive Government, Resilient Economy, Sustainable Environment, Vibrant Culture, and Livable Community—the plan provides a comprehensive roadmap for growth and governance through 2027. With a focus on effective citizen engagement, infrastructure improvements, and environmental stewardship, the plan aims to ensure that Sandpoint continues to be a distinctive city with a high quality of life for its residents
The City of Sandpoint’s Arts, Culture, and Historic Preservation Plan lays out a vision to foster a vibrant cultural scene and protect the city’s rich architectural and historical heritage. Adopted in 2021, this plan builds on Sandpoint’s long-standing commitment to arts and preservation, ensuring that these elements remain central to the community’s identity, prosperity, and quality of life. The plan outlines actionable goals to enhance collaboration among local artists, preserve significant historic landmarks, and integrate cultural experiences into everyday life in Sandpoint. It serves as a roadmap for fostering creativity, celebrating heritage, and promoting economic development through the arts and historic preservation
The Little Sand Creek Watershed Management Plan is a comprehensive guide to protecting one of Sandpoint’s most vital natural resources—its primary source of drinking water. Updated in 2021, this plan outlines strategies to ensure the long-term health of the watershed by managing land use, protecting water quality, and maintaining forest and wildlife health. The plan emphasizes responsible stewardship, including erosion control, forest management, and recreational use, while prioritizing water quality as the most critical goal. This proactive approach safeguards Sandpoint’s water supply and helps balance environmental, economic, and community interests
Little Sand Creek Watershed Management Plan
For Appendices, please click here.
The Little Sand Creek Timber Management Plan guides the sustainable use and stewardship of Sandpoint’s 4,777-acre forestland. Updated in 2019, the plan focuses on maintaining forest health, ensuring watershed protection, and managing timber resources responsibly to balance ecological, economic, and recreational interests. The plan outlines strategies for promoting forest diversity, addressing insect and disease outbreaks, and conducting responsible timber harvests to enhance forest resilience. It reflects the City's commitment to sustainable forest management while safeguarding the watershed and providing long-term benefits to the community
The Little Sand Creek Watershed Recreation Management Plan provides a strategic vision for balancing recreational access with the protection of Sandpoint’s primary source of drinking water. Adopted in 2023, the plan emphasizes sustainable recreation that minimizes environmental impact while enhancing community enjoyment. The plan envisions an expanded trail network, improved trailheads, and a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, mountain biking, and winter sports, all in harmony with the watershed's natural beauty and wildlife. Thoughtful management will ensure the watershed remains a valuable resource for both recreation and water quality
Little Sand Creek Watershed Recreation Management Plan
For Appendices, please click here.
The City of Sandpoint's Multimodal Transportation Master Plan (MTMP), adopted in 2021, provides a comprehensive framework for improving transportation across all modes of travel, including walking, biking, driving, transit, and freight. The MTMP addresses the community's current and future needs, aiming to enhance safety, accessibility, and connectivity while supporting the town’s growth as a regional hub. Developed through extensive community input and data-driven analysis, the plan prioritizes multimodal improvements to foster a well-connected, safe, and sustainable transportation system for Sandpoint’s residents and visitors over the next 20 years
Multimodal Transportation Master Plan
For Appendices, please click here.
The Downtown Streets Plan and Design Guide for the City of Sandpoint, adopted in December 2012, provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing the look, feel, and function of downtown streets. Focused on improving pedestrian safety, accessibility, and the overall streetscape, this guide outlines design principles and street typologies that will shape the future of Sandpoint’s downtown core. The plan emphasizes creating a walkable, vibrant commercial district that supports economic vitality while maintaining the city's unique character and historic charm. This forward-thinking guide will help ensure that downtown remains the heart of the community.
The City of Sandpoint's Parks & Recreation Master Plan, adopted in August 2020, provides a comprehensive vision for the future of parks, recreation, trails, and open spaces within the community. This plan aligns with Sandpoint's strategic priorities—focusing on responsive government, a resilient economy, environmental sustainability, vibrant culture, and livability. It serves as a roadmap for developing and maintaining parks and recreational facilities in a way that enhances quality of life for residents and visitors alike, ensuring that these vital community resources remain environmentally and fiscally sustainable for years to come
Parks & Recreation Master Plan
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For Updated City beach Marina Concept, please click here.
The City of Sandpoint's Stormwater Facilities Plan is a comprehensive guide for managing the city's stormwater infrastructure. This plan outlines strategies to address water runoff, prevent flooding, and protect water quality in Sandpoint's local waterways. By focusing on both upgrades to existing systems and the implementation of sustainable stormwater solutions, the plan ensures that the city can effectively manage stormwater while supporting environmental health and community safety. This essential framework helps Sandpoint remain resilient as it continues to grow.
The City of Sandpoint's Pavement Management Analysis Report, completed in August 2020, provides a detailed assessment of the city’s 51 miles of roadway. The report evaluates pavement conditions using a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) and offers strategies for maintaining and improving the network. With a current PCI of 61, the report highlights the need for targeted maintenance to prevent further deterioration and outlines budget scenarios for optimal long-term pavement health. The analysis helps guide the city's investments to ensure safe and cost-effective road infrastructure for residents and visitors
The City of Sandpoint's Urban Forestry Management Plan, adopted in November 2022, provides a comprehensive framework for the care, maintenance, and expansion of Sandpoint’s urban forest. This plan ensures the long-term health and sustainability of the city’s trees, which are recognized as valuable green infrastructure. By setting goals for tree canopy expansion, promoting species diversity, and implementing proactive maintenance strategies, the plan enhances the environmental, social, and economic benefits that trees provide to the community. Through ongoing collaboration between city staff, residents, and volunteers, Sandpoint is committed to preserving its tree canopy for future generations
The City of Sandpoint's 2021 Collection System Capital Improvement Plan outlines the strategic upgrades and expansions needed for the city’s wastewater collection infrastructure. This plan focuses on improving capacity, addressing aging infrastructure, and ensuring reliable service to meet the needs of a growing population. By identifying priority projects and allocating resources efficiently, the plan ensures that the city can maintain a safe, sustainable, and resilient wastewater system for residents, supporting both current demands and future growth.
The City of Sandpoint's Wastewater Treatment Plant Facility Plan provides a comprehensive guide for the long-term operation, maintenance, and necessary upgrades to the city's wastewater treatment facility. This plan addresses current system capacities, regulatory requirements, and future growth projections to ensure the facility can continue to efficiently treat wastewater while protecting the environment. By focusing on both immediate needs and future improvements, the plan supports the city's commitment to sustainability, water quality, and public health.
The City of Sandpoint's Water System Master Plan provides a strategic framework for ensuring the long-term sustainability and reliability of the city’s water supply. This plan addresses current system capacities, identifies necessary upgrades to aging infrastructure, and plans for future growth to meet increasing demand. With a focus on maintaining water quality, improving distribution, and promoting conservation, the plan ensures that Sandpoint's residents and businesses will continue to have access to a safe and dependable water supply for years to come.
The City of Sandpoint's Capital Improvement Plans and Development Impact Fee Study outlines a comprehensive strategy for funding and implementing key infrastructure projects to support the city’s growth. This plan identifies necessary upgrades to roads, parks, public safety facilities, and other essential services, ensuring that development pays its fair share through impact fees. By aligning future development with infrastructure improvements, the plan promotes sustainable growth and ensures that Sandpoint can continue to provide high-quality services and amenities to its residents.
The City of Sandpoint's Downtown Waterfront Design Report envisions a vibrant, accessible, and revitalized waterfront area that enhances public spaces while fostering economic growth. This report outlines design concepts that prioritize pedestrian access, environmental sustainability, and community recreation, creating stronger connections between the downtown core and Lake Pend Oreille. The plan includes recommendations for infrastructure improvements, landscaping, and amenities that will transform the waterfront into a lively hub for both residents and visitors, reinforcing Sandpoint's unique identity and commitment to waterfront stewardship.
Downtown Waterfront Visioning/Framework Final Report
To review all stages of the design competition, please visit the Downtown
Waterfront Design page here.
The City of Sandpoint’s Downtown Parking Management Plan establishes a comprehensive, data-driven framework to better manage limited parking resources in the downtown and waterfront areas. The Plan responds to long-standing concerns about congestion, low turnover, and inconsistent enforcement that reduce access to businesses, public amenities, and community destinations, particularly during peak tourist seasons.
The City of Sandpoint's Housing and Economic Analysis Study provides an in-depth look at the local housing market and economic conditions to inform future planning and policy decisions. This study evaluates housing affordability, availability, and demand, while also analyzing key economic trends impacting the community. The findings offer insights into how Sandpoint can address housing challenges, support economic development, and ensure balanced growth that meets the needs of residents and businesses alike.
The City of Sandpoint's Northeast Water Service Strategy Report outlines a plan for expanding and enhancing water service to the northeast areas of the city. This report assesses current infrastructure, water demand, and future growth projections to develop a strategy that ensures reliable and sustainable water service. By identifying necessary system upgrades and extensions, the plan supports the city's commitment to meeting the needs of both current residents and future development while maintaining high water quality and service standards.
The Festival at Sandpoint Economic Contribution Study highlights the significant economic impact of the annual music festival on the local economy. This study examines spending patterns, visitor demographics, and the festival’s contributions to local businesses, tourism, and job creation. The findings showcase how the event not only provides cultural and entertainment value but also serves as a major economic driver for Sandpoint, supporting the community’s economic vitality and growth.
The Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail Master Plan outlines a vision for preserving and enhancing one of Sandpoint’s most treasured natural resources. The plan focuses on improving public access, expanding recreational opportunities, and protecting the scenic and ecological integrity of the trail along the shores of Lake Pend d'Oreille. By proposing strategies for trail development, habitat conservation, and community engagement, the plan aims to ensure that the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail remains a beloved destination for residents and visitors while fostering a deeper connection to Sandpoint’s natural beauty.
The Farmers Market at Sandpoint Rapid Market Assessment Report provides valuable insights into the market’s operations, customer base, and economic impact. This report evaluates shopper demographics, vendor performance, and overall market trends to guide improvements and future growth. By analyzing key factors such as customer satisfaction and spending patterns, the report highlights the market’s importance to the local economy and its role in fostering a vibrant, sustainable community.