County, Big Mountain, resolve waiver issue

The Daily Inter Lake

A dispute over special-improvement district requirements for The Glades subdivision on Big Mountain was resolved quickly and quietly Tuesday by narrowing the scope of future improvement districts.

A decision on the next 12 phases of the subdivision had been postponed for more than a month while the county commissioners and Winter Sports officials worked through the details of the waiver of protest the county is requiring for The Glades.

Winter Sports Chief Executive Officer Fred Jones maintained the waiver was too broad and would make it difficult to sell lots. The commissioners said such waivers are crucial for future improvement districts.

The compromise is a waiver of protest that states a special improvement district must be confined to roads and sewer and water facilities and systems.

"It's clearer," Jones said about the new language. "We appreciate it very much."

After agreeing on the waiver issue, the commissioners approved the next round of development in The Glades, which will include 24 homes, 135 townhomes and 22 cabins on 55.7 acres near the Outpost day lodge on Big Mountain.