Planners writing draft of county growth plan

The Daily Inter Lake

Following a series of public meetings in December and January, efforts to update the Flathead County growth policy now have entered the writing stage.

BJ Grieve, assistant director of the Flathead County Planning Office, said he expects to have a first draft of the policy available for public review by mid-May.

"The draft will be available online, at the library and at our office," Grieve said. "There will be a minimum of two public hearings on the draft. After that we'll revise it and have a final draft available by mid-July."

Additional public hearings will be held on the final draft. The Flathead County Planning Board also will review the document and make recommendations before it goes to the county commissioners.

By state law, the policy must be in place by Oct. 1 or the county wouldn't be able to make any substantive changes to its zoning regulations or existing land-use plan.

A major educational effort on the growth policy also will begin in April, with planning staff and planning board members available to give presentations about what the document does and doesn't do, and about the approval process.

"Any community groups who want one of these meetings can contact our office," Grieve said.

A draft outline for the growth policy, highlighting the various issues that will be addressed, is already available on the planning office Web site at www.co.flathead.mt.us/fcpz/growthpolicy.html

Grieve also provides periodic e-mail updates on the growth policy and what's next in the process. Anyone who wants to be added to the mailing list can contact the planning office at 751-8200 or via e-mail using the contact form on the department's Web site.