Two Rivers amendment up for final vote

The Flathead County commissioners are scheduled to take final action Tuesday on the Two Rivers growth policy amendment.

The proposal is the largest private landowner-driven land-use change in the county's history. It covers 1,460 acres north of West Reserve Drive, primarily between U.S. 2 and U.S. 93.

A group of 13 separate property owners is asking to change the land-use designation on their properties from mostly agricultural to a mix of high-density, suburban- and rural-density residential, commercial, industrial and open space.

Approving the amendment would pave the way for higher-density development to the north of Kalispell and Evergreen.

The commissioners announced their intention to adopt the proposal on May 3, approving a resolution of intent by a 2-0-1 vote and thereby kicking off a 30-day public comment period.

Commissioner Joe Brenneman abstained, saying he thought the project "had some real advantages," but that it could be improved with a little more work.

This land-use change "is going to be real important to what we do in the future," Brenneman said at the time. "I just want to make sure we're doing everything appropriate so we have the best product we can get."

The Flathead County

Planning Board struggled with the Two Rivers amendment as well. Although the board ultimately recommended approval on a 7-2 vote, some board members indicated that they would have preferred a more comprehensive approach to planning for this area.

However, only a handful of letters opposed to the project were received during the comment period.

About four dozen letters, e-mail messages and submittals came in prior to the deadline.

Most, including about a dozen letters from the applicants or applicant representatives, were in favor of the amendment. They suggested that addressing 13 separate properties with one amendment was a better approach than dealing with them individually.

"By combining their lands, these property owners are providing us with one of the best opportunities this valley will ever see," Reuben Braaten wrote. "Please support their efforts. This opportunity will never come around again."

According to Bob and Ming Lovejoy, "Approval of this amendment is a great opportunity for the county. Done right, the Two Rivers area could be a model for future development in the county."

Several of the Two Rivers property owners are longtime farmers who are near or past retirement age. Rather than manage their assets individually, they tried to provide a more unified vision for future development in the area.

For example, the amendment includes about two miles of connected open space along the Whitefish River. The applicants have suggested this would be used for public parks and bike paths.

They also offered to set aside easements along Whitefish Stage, Rose Crossing and Trumble Creek Road for future road improvements.

These features didn't appease several neighbors, though. They say future development of the Two Rivers properties will ruin the rural character that currently makes the area so appealing.

"In reality, this amendment proposes to radically disrupt the lives of its neighbors, adversely change their quality of life and forever alter the value of the existing homeowners' property and lifestyles," Jane Burleson wrote. "We must not allow developers to dictate the [growth policy], but rather the growth policy must determine our vision for the future of the Flathead Valley."

Burleson suggested that many neighbors are opposed to the Two Rivers amendment, but that they didn't bother to say anything because the commissioners previously ignored their opposition to the Glacier Mall proposal, which is located in the same area.

The dozen or so people who did submit letters in opposition to the amendment cited a variety of concerns.

The area's inadequate transportation infrastructure was frequently mentioned. Some questioned whether the open-space portion of the project would actually be open to the public. The possibility that Kalispell would extend its sewer and water lines up Whitefish Stage Road to serve parts of the Two Rivers area also raised concerns about annexation and higher taxes.

Read and Suzie Vaughan were afraid that taxpayers might end up paying for this project.

"It is unthinkable that the developer would profit greatly from the land sale, then turn to the taxpayers to provide the necessary roads, traffic lights, schools, etc.," they wrote.

The commissioners are scheduled to take action on final resolution approving the Two Rivers amendment at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

It's unlikely that public comment will be taken at that time. However, general public-comment periods are scheduled at 9:15 a.m. on Monday and 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday.

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