Planning board splits vote on marina proposal

A major lakeshore variance for what would be the largest marina on Flathead Lake failed to earn a positive recommendation from the Flathead County Planning Board on Wednesday.

The board split its vote on Montana Eagle Development's request for a series of variances that would allow for the renovation and expansion of an existing marina located at the north end of Lakeside.

Four members voted in favor and four were opposed to the variance; one member was out of town. The issue will now go to the county commissioners for another public hearing and a final decision.

The vote seemed to hinge on whether the developer should be rewarded for cleaning up the area and on how much public benefit would result from expanding the marina.

"I think everyone agrees that [the existing marina] needs to be fixed up," board member Tim Calaway said. "And I think whoever does that should be rewarded economically. If we make them stick with what's already grandfathered, it's going to be a private marina and that doesn't do Lakeside any favors."

The existing, 50-year-old marina already exceeds the lakeshore protection regulations, which were adopted after the facility was built. Montana Eagle Development wants to expand it well beyond the current footprint.

For example, the rules allow 15 square feet of impervious surface within the Lakeshore Protection Zone for every foot of shoreline on the property. By that standard, the marina is allowed 12,750 square feet of dock and building space - but the current facility has 53,550 square feet, and Montana Eagle Development wants to increase that to 110,875 square feet.

The current regulations also restrict dock length to a maximum of 100 feet. However, the existing docks extend 179 to 350 feet, depending on where they're measured, and it's being proposed to extend them to an average of 505 feet and a maximum of 664 feet.

The added dock space would allow the company to increase the number of boat slips from about 56 usable spaces today to 196. Of those, 86 would be private, 14 would be available for transient boaters and 96 would be set aside permanently for long-term public rental.

"If you compare what's there now versus what's being proposed, it's jolting," noted board member Kathy Robertson. "They're talking more than five times what would be allowed. I also don't see how someone can go onto public property - which the lake is - and put in private boat slips to make money."

Board president Don Hines said he was torn between "the immensity of what's being proposed" versus the amount of cleanup that needed to be done.

Hines and other board members seemed willing to consider phasing the project - allowing the existing facility to be renovated first, followed by the expansion - but there was uncertainty about how to amend the application to accomplish that goal.

Consequently, Hines joined Robertson and board members Dan Bangeman and Cal Scott in voting against the variance. Calaway and board members Larry Linne, Jeff Larsen and Russ Crowder voted in favor.

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com