Helena Flats land-use move denied

The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead County commissioners unanimously denied a growth policy amendment on Thursday that would have paved the way for a 103-lot subdivision on Helena Flats Road.

The amendment would have changed the land-use designation from agricultural to high-density residential for 38 acres on the east side of Helena Flats Road, about a quarter-mile north of Montana 35.

A related zone change also was denied, effectively blocking development of the Cottonwood Estates subdivision.

Commissioner Joe Brenneman said it would be inappropriate to allow high-density residential development in this area, given that the commissioners recently approved another growth policy amendment that encourages high-density development north of Kalispell.

Commissioner Bob Watne said he couldn't support the amendment because the proposed density in Cottonwood Estates was "way too heavy" for this particular area.

If the project were connected to public sewer service, Commissioner Gary Hall said, he could have supported it.

However, Kalispell and the Evergreen sewer district were unable to find a solution to that issue, so he voted to deny the amendment.

The Flathead County Planning Board unanimously recommended approval of the amendment last March, but split its vote on the zone change.