Reduced Bigfork project up for vote
The Daily Inter Lake
Two proposed master plan amendments come before the Flathead County Planning Board for public hearings tonight, together with a preliminary subdivision plat and zone change.
The specific agenda items include:
. A master plan amendment from agricultural to suburban residential for 63 acres in Bigfork along Holt Drive on both sides of Chapman Hill Road.
Developer Reto Barrington submitted a similar proposal earlier this year, requesting an urban residential designation for the area. Although nearby subdivisions have a similar density - and the property is split by public water and sewer services - the Flathead County commissioners denied that request, in part because of density concerns.
If this revised amendment is approved, it would allow Barrington to submit a zone change and subdivision plat request. The suburban residential designation would allow an average density of two units per acre compared to eight units for urban residential.
The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee unanimously recommended approval of the proposal in September. Several people spoke in favor of the application at that time, including some who opposed the previous amendment request. Another eight people spoke in opposition, suggesting that any plan amendments be tabled until the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan is updated.
. A master plan amendment from agricultural to industrial for 55 acres along U.S. 93 south of Kalispell at the intersection of Rocky Cliff Drive and Demersville Road.
The amendment would facilitate a zone change to I-2 heavy industrial. The property is currently zoned AG-80, an agricultural zone with an 80-acre minimum lot size.
The developer, Montana Venture Partnership, noted in its application that this site is located near the southern end of the proposed U.S. 93 bypass, making it a prime spot for warehouses, distribution firms and manufacturing firms.
The Flathead County Master Plan seems to have anticipated uses of this nature. It notes that industrial areas should have access to major highways, be buffered from residential areas, and "should occur south on U.S. 93 between Ashley Creek and Rocky Cliff Drive."
. A zone change from SAG-5 to R-2 residential for about 15 acres located immediately east of the Flathead River and north of Montana 35.
The purpose of the change is to facilitate development of a reclaimed rock quarry. The rezoning would allow development of up to 31 lots, compared to the three that could be created now. According to the Flathead County Planning Office staff report, the request complies with relevant statutory criteria.
. Preliminary plat proposal for the amended plat of Lot 2 in the Big Horn Meadows subdivision. This would create three commercial lots on 8.8 acres at 111 Big Horn Drive west of Kalispell.
The planning board meets in the second-floor conference room of the Earl Bennett Building, beginning at 6 p.m.