Two Rivers approved

The Flathead County commissioners unanimously approved a huge growth policy amendment on Tuesday, but it could be one of the last ones they address for several months.

The Two Rivers amendment changes the land-use designation on 1,460 acres north of Kalispell and Evergreen, opening the area to higher-density development.

Now that the final resolution has been approved, the various property owners involved in the project can proceed with their individual subdivision and zoning proposals. Some will likely come forward in the immediate future; others could maintain the existing land uses for several years.

The commissioners made some minor changes before approving the resolution. However, their strongest statements came in reference to future growth policy amendments.

Even though I like what the applicants have done here, it s piecemeal, said Commissioner Gary Hall. This isn t what we want to see happen [with future amendments]. It s ridiculous. It puts a huge workload on our entire planning staff, at a time when we re potentially three planners light.

The planning office has had one planner position open for almost a year. Senior Planner Johna Morrison also recently accepted a new position with a private firm, and another planner may have to leave for personal reasons.

Given the staffing situation as well as the fact that the county only has 15 months to complete its growth policy update Hall suggested that no more amendments be accepted until the planning staff and Flathead County Planning Board decide how to proceed.

Commissioner Joe Brenneman recommended going one step further and declaring a moratorium on individual growth policy amendments until October 2006, when the overall policy update should be complete.

The planning board made a similar recommendation three months ago, on an 8-1 vote.

The board has slogged its way through more than a dozen plan amendments in the last 18 months, and at least two more major proposals are in the works.

Commissioner Bob Watne said he was OK with putting them on hold, as long as it was legal.

Deputy County Attorney Jonathan Smith said he didn t see a problem with it, but he recommended holding a public hearing before taking any action.

Hall asked Smith to schedule a hearing as soon as possible.

He also indicated that the moratorium wouldn t apply to any amendments that have already made it through the planning board.

Regarding Two Rivers, the commissioners clarified that they want most of the property to be connected to public sewer and water services, and that provisions must be made for a future grid street system through the area.

There was also some discussion about requiring urban standards, although it wasn t totally clear what that meant.

Due to the uncertainty about whether and when public utilities would become available to the area, as well as the uncertainty about development standards, Commissioner Joe Brenneman twice proposed that the Two Rivers amendment be tabled until the overall growth policy is updated.

I think there are more advantages to continuing this until we have a growth policy than there are to passing it at this time, he said.

Both motions failed for lack of a second, although Commissioner Gary Hall hesitated for several seconds before proceeding.

Hall noted that Kalispell and the county recently failed to resolve the public sewer issue on two Evergreen subdivisions, and questioned whether Two Rivers should be delayed until that issue is worked out.

It s a major issue and it has me concerned, he said. If we can t get anything done on a little, tiny project, why shouldn t we continue this today?

Kalispell attorney Ken Kalvig, representing the Two Rivers applicants, said it would be bad policy to say all of this area had to connect to municipal services before it could develop.

Robin Street, one of the largest landowners in the Two Rivers area, reiterated his long-standing commitment to use public infrastructure.

Kalispell is currently pursuing options for extending its sewer system north along Whitefish Stage Road to Rose Crossing, into the heart of the Two Rivers property.

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