Board votes against Haskill subdivision

The Daily Inter Lake

A major subdivision proposed in the hills south of Kila was unanimously recommended for denial by the Flathead County Planning Board on Wednesday.

Haskill Mountain Ranch featured 74 single-family lots on 530 acres located off Browns Meadow Road. The lots would be served by individual water wells and septic systems.

To address concerns about traffic safety and road dust, the developer had proposed paving about four miles of Browns Meadow Road rather than the internal subdivision roads.

Several neighbors, however, said the project was inconsistent with the rural character of the area.

"This is like a Scud missile of urbanization that's going to hit the neighborhood," said Jeff Hutten. "It's just another example of leapfrog development going way beyond the urban and even rural service centers."

Planning board members seemed to agree, saying they would like the project better if it had a lower density or if it offered a more creative design that made provisions for the abundant wildlife that reportedly uses the area.

"All the community's concerns would be taken care of if the density was lower," Frank deKort said.

In other action, the board:

. Unanimously recommended approval of Alpine Industrial Park, a 13-lot industrial subdivision located off U.S. 93 south of Kalispell, immediately north of the Kalispell Industrial Center.

. Split over Whisper Ridge, a 59-lot subdivision featuring 23 single-family home lots and 36 duplex townhouse lots on 14 acres on Sunset Drive in Bigfork, near Wayfarer's Beach State Park.

Emergency access, traffic impacts and sewer availability seemed to be major concerns. Motions to recommend approval and to recommend denial both split 4-4.

These items will now go to the Flathead County commissioners for final action, unless the applications are withdrawn by the developers.