Land Board OKs plan for Whitefish area

Hard work by the public and by a state agency paid off this week when the Montana State Board of Land Commissioners approved a management plan for the state trust lands near Whitefish.

A citizens advisory committee and the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation worked with a professional consultant to draft the plan the board reviewed. The document outlines goals and policies for managing the 13,000 acres of state trust land in the Whitefish area. The plan singles out certain sections of land for development or conservation.

The plan sets aside between 5 and 10 percent of the 13,000 acres as acreage for potential development. The document also encourages land sales or leases to people interested in buying for conservation or public use rather than for private development.

"I think the whole committee is excited," Department of Natural Resources and Conservation planner Steve Lorch said. "The DNRC from the bottom up is excited. And I think the land board is pleased."

State trust lands are parcels of land granted to the states by Congress. Federal law requires the states to manage those lands in a way that generates revenue for state schools, but there is no set dollar figure of how much money the lands must bring in. The people who drafted the new plan hope development or sales of the land will translate to more money for schools.

The state doesn't have numbers readily available that show how much specific parcels of land bring in because the state organizes its accounting system by program, such as timber sales, rather than land sections, manager of the Stillwater State Forest Bob Sandman said in an earlier interview.

The committee and the state agency spent more than a year drafting the document, which is the first of its kind in Montana. The plan was contentious at times, for both the public and those creating it, because it allows development on land that has long been used for public recreation.

Some people expressed suspicion that the state agency was paving the way for mass development or was not interested in maintaining public access. But those involved in the planning continually requested public comment and explained the plan to community members, said Lisa Horowitz, senior planner for the Stillwater State Forest.

"You gotta have trust before you can roll up your sleeves and work," she said.

At the last few public meetings, the state agency and committee heard little comment, compared to the large number of people who spoke at earlier sessions. Committee members said the decreased turnout was due to the community understanding and supporting the plan.

"It was worth the hard work and effort," Horowitz said of the many meetings and explanatory sessions.

The land board unanimously approved the plan. The next step is for Flathead County commissioners and the Whitefish City Council to amend their master plans to include the land-use plan. County commissioners likely will review the plan in February, and Whitefish might attend that meeting, Horowitz said.

The state still will manage the trust lands, but any potential development on those lands is subject to review by either the county or Whitefish. That means the city or county would use the new plan for guidance on what kind of development to allow.

The planning process is done, but the committee anticipates that some members will form a new advisory group that will continue to work with the state agency - "just to make sure the spirit of the plan carries through to implementation," said committee chairman Alan Elm.

Copies of the plan are available at the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce.

Reporter Camden Easterling can be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com

State trust land plans at a glance:

The management plan identifies six sub-areas within the 13,000 acres of state trust land near Whitefish. The plan outlines goals and policies for handling the lands in the next 20 years.

. Stillwater - Most of the parcel will be unchanged. Some residential and light industrial, or non-intensive and non-polluting, development is allowed on about 60 acres near U.S. 93. An additional 120 acres is up for residential development.

. Haskill - Two buyers can purchase land and build personal homes, not subdivisions, and must preserve surrounding lands through a conservation easement.

. Spencer - The community is allowed time to raise money to buy the parcel for conservation before other development plans or sales are considered.

. Happy Valley - The area will not be developed unless a developer plans to include cluster development, affordable housing, open space and public recreation areas. The developer also must solve the area's septic system problems.

. Swift Creek - Property owners at the north end of Whitefish Lake can purchase easements on adjacent state trust lands. Traditional public access will continue. Up to six homesite are allowed in the area.

. Beaver Lakes - The section will be managed by local land and government authorities as a recreation area. A trail system from the north end of Whitefish Lake to Spencer Mountain is planned.

The majority of Beaver Lakes will be protected through purchases by conservation buyers. Small developments will be allowed on parts of the southwest side of the area and southeast toward Skyles Lake.

. KM - The east side of KM Ranch Road will be managed under traditional forestry practices. The land west of the road, a parcel south of Spring Prairie Road and other areas are available for purchase by conservation buyers.