Planning Board OKs subdivisions

By AMY MAY

The Daily Inter Lake

It took the Flathead County Planning Board seven hours Wednesday night to unanimously pass three subdivisions and one zone change.

While each subdivision passed quite easily, the zone change request evoked emotional testimonies from the 27 area residents who spoke at the public hearing.

Nearly all 75 of those attending the meeting came to hear the request to create the Spring Creek Zoning District. The area in question, located west of U.S. 93 in Lakeside, is currently unzoned. The proposed zoning district would be classified as R-1, suburban residential.

Applicant Peggy Hedin said that 44 of the 53 residents affected by the change had signed a petition in favor of the R-1 zoning.

Jim Etzler, a landowner to be included in the zone change, was one of the nine residents who did not sign the petition.

Etzler said that this zone change application was an attack on his plans to build a condominium project. R-1 zoning only allows a lot to be subdivided into two units per acre. Condominiums would not be possible.

Etzler said that such a zone change would devalue his property's worth by 70 percent.

"Where are my property rights?" he asked.

An area resident, Allison McCarthey, saw the zone change as a measure to protect the rural area from extreme growth. She said, "This zone change won't stop development, but it will protect us from high density growth."

After hearing testimony from the public, which heavily favored the zone change, the planning board weighed in.

"As you all know, I'm in favor of zoning," said board member Kim Flemming. "There are too many of us in this valley to just have a heyday."

Board member Gordon Cross did make an effort to exclude Etzler's property from the zone change, but was unsuccessful in procuring a second on his motion.

The board voted unanimously to recommend the zone change to the Flathead County Commission, who will make the final decision on the matter.

Without much controversy the board also approved three subdivisions unanimously.

. SpurWing Creekside, a proposed 47-lot subdivision is located on almost 24 acres off Bower Road in Lakeside. The proposed development includes 35 single-family homes and 12 townhouses.

. The Tree Farm at Whitefish, is a 60-lot mixed-use subdivision. The proposed subdivision includes 41 single-family lots, 16 townhouses and three commercial lots. The Tree Farm would be completed in six phases over 10 years. The property is on almost 156 acres off U.S. 93 north of KM Ranch Road.

. Scenic Tracts is a seven-lot single-family subdivision located on U.S. 2 north of West Reserve Drive.

Reporter Amy May can be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at amay@dailyinterlake.com