Few voice opinions on county growth policy

Although hundreds of people over the last few years have complained about land-use planning in the Flathead, only about 40 people showed up Tuesday night to try to do something about it.

The sparse attendance was something of a surprise, given the often contentious nature of planning and development in the valley.

Tuesday's public hearing at the Kalispell Junior High School gymnasium was intended to give people the opportunity to say what critical issues they think should be addressed in the county's growth policy.

The growth policy will serve as the community's fundamental planning vision for years to come, providing a basis for future zoning changes and subdivision development, as well as for land-use decisions on where commercial, high- and low-density residential, and industrial growth will occur.

The few people who showed up Tuesday highlighted a variety of issues.

Richard Kuhl, for example, was concerned about the possibility that hunting, fishing and recreational access might be lost as federal, state and private timberlands in the county are sold or developed.

"I think we need to start planning on how to maintain access" to lakes, river corridors and traditional hunting areas, he said.

Several people voiced concerns about water quality and about how to prevent rampant development from spoiling the Flathead's natural environment.

"What can the valley's ecosystem handle?" Harry Glazier asked. "I've never seen that addressed in a comprehensive manner. Our financial system doesn't give us a mechanism to address the true costs [of growth]. I'd love to see us plan for our long-term future, and not just for the next five or 10 years."

Other speakers said they wanted to make sure that a mix of residential options remain available so that everyone isn't forced to choose from a limited, predetermined list of housing types, locations and lot sizes.

"City lots are widely available right now, but the selection of small-acreage rural lots is down to almost nothing," said Greg Stevens, a real-estate appraiser. "I think it's important that we offer choices. I'm afraid the rural landowners aren't well-represented in this process."

Planning consultants Bill Collins and Lane Kendig, who were at Tuesday's hearing, also have heard from dozens of local government and elected officials and representatives of diverse interest groups during three days of meetings.

Based on all the information they've received, they'll craft a road map that the county can use to update the growth policy. Depending on the cost, they also might be hired to help with the update, which has to be completed by Oct. 1, 2006.

On Tuesday, Collins and Kendig noted that many other communities have struggled with the same kind of changes and issues that the Flathead is seeing.

Some have done so successfully, they said, creating a community vision that's so appropriate and so widely supported that it rarely changes over time. Others have never managed to achieve a consensus, so that the credibility of the vision is always up for debate.

"I think the first order of business here is to try and establish a clear vision for the future and to get community buy-in," Collins said.

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