Two Rivers group offers easements for roads, bike paths

A recent decision to bump the Two Rivers growth policy amendment back to the Flathead County Planning Board for further review has resulted in several transportation-related improvements.

During a workshop on Tuesday, the applicants said they would dedicate wider road easements along all major transportation routes in the project area. They also offered to reserve a new north-south road corridor through a portion of the property that could handle some of the additional traffic from any future development.

Two Rivers is the largest landowner-proposed growth policy amendment in the valley's history.

It would change the land-use designation on 1,836 acres north of Kalispell from agricultural to a mix of residential, commercial, industrial and open space.

The planning board recommended approval of the project on a 4-3 vote last year. However, the county commissioners asked the board to take a second look and try to craft something that most or all of its members could support.

Since then, three workshops have been held to discuss the application. Tuesday's meeting was the most productive session so far, although only three of the nine board members attended.

Erica Wirtala with Sands Surveying, which is providing technical support for the Two Rivers applicants, said easements would be dedicated along portions of Whitefish Stage Road, West Reserve Drive, Trumble Creek Road and Rose Crossing wherever these roads border the applicants' property.

The county or state would be able to purchase this right of way at some point in the future, Wirtala said, when it becomes necessary to widen the roads. Alternatively, developers might be required to donate the right of way whenever they propose a subdivision.

These easements would increase the potential right of way along Whitefish Stage by 20 feet, from 60 to 80 feet - an offer that seemed to satisfy the Montana Department of Transportation and Flathead County Road Superintendent Charlie Johnson.

Along Rose Crossing, an additional 40 feet would be dedicated, increasing its potential right of way from 60 to 100 feet.

Easements for bike paths would be set aside as well, Wirtala said, thereby "providing for an almost continuous route along most of the major roadways" in the project area.

The applicants also clarified that at least a major portion of the 200 acres of open space within the Two Rivers area would be open to the public, including about two miles of greenbelt along the Whitefish River. Some of that property already has been placed in a 30-year conservation easement.

Because of concerns about accepting new information, the planning board previously had not allowed the applicants to address any of the issues raised during the earlier workshops. They were given a chance to respond on Tuesday, though, because the board is now accepting public comment from anyone at the workshops.

A second public hearing on the amendment also has been scheduled so people will be able to respond to any new information or changes in the proposal. That hearing will be March 30 at 6 p.m.

Since the first public hearing in October, three planning board members have been replaced. Consequently, it's unclear how the new board will respond. Based on comments made in the first two workshops, opinions still seem to be sharply divided.

Tim Calaway, who is beginning his eighth year on the board, said he has "never seen such a great opportunity" to plan for growth in a large, central area.

"I'm tired of the haphazard way things have gone," he said. "This is a rare opportunity to plan an area where we know growth is going to happen. I don't want to waste it."

However, other board members were critical of the proposal, saying it failed to address a wide range of growth-related impacts, from transportation needs to sewer infrastructure, public safety and schools.

"I don't see how we can consider any development along Whitefish Stage unless we have a wider right of way," Kathy Robertson said. "We can't call ourselves planners if the infrastructure can't handle" the proposed density.

Kim Fleming said she wanted to know how much land is already available here for commercial or residential development. Without that information, she said, she can't weigh the full impacts of this project.

Based on information in the original application, it's estimated that the Two Rivers amendment would designate 475 acres as commercial, 300 acres as high-density residential (eight-plus units per acre), 475 acres as urban residential (three to eight units per acre), 150 acres as suburban residential (two units per acre), 172 acres as rural residential (one unit per acre), about 40 acres as industrial and 200 acres as open space.

Jeff Larsen's biggest problem was with the transportation system.

"I think this is a logical place for higher-density development, but the roads can't handle it right now," he said. "I'd like to see something that addresses that issue."

It remains to be seen whether Tuesday's offer of dedicated easements, new road corridors and bike paths satisfies any of the board's concerns.

The planning board's next workshop on the Two Rivers amendment will be on March 2 at 6 p.m. in the second-floor conference room of the Earl Bennett Building in Kalispell.

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