Planners approve proposal

After the second public hearing on developer Trevor Schaefer's Eagle's Crest subdivision proposal and seven hours of discussion, the Flathead County Planning Board voted to recommend approval of the application.

More than 60 people gathered Wednesday night to give the board their comments on the proposed final five phases of the Eagle's Crest Subdivision near Lakeside. But by the time the board members handed down their decision at 1 a.m., only 11 members of the public remained.

This was the second time the 821-unit proposal had been brought before the Planning Board.

In May, the board sent Flathead County commissioners a recommendation to deny the subdivision.

The board's initial concerns dealt with steep slopes, a lack of emergency access and density. The board also noted that neither the public nor the board had adequate time to examine all the applicant's submitted materials, some of which were turned in to the Planning Office the day of the hearing.

When the proposal came before the commissioners in June, they decided to remand the proposal back to the planning office.

At the time, Commissioner Joe Brenneman said, "We are looking at a 40-year project, let's not rush it."

Schaefer and planning staff set a July 13 deadline to resubmit a subdivision application with all materials included. New information was submitted Aug. 10 and again Aug. 15.

According to Eric Giles, the Flathead County planner who has been working with Schaefer on Eagle's Crest, the new application did not change much in terms of lot configuration or density. It does, however, include new information on lots that were judged to have inadequate building pads and too significant of slope. A water capacity and storm water study also was completed.

The new application also included a letter of approval from the Montana Department of Transportation. The letter, however, only gives approval to the first five phases of Eagle's Crest. Upon the final plat of Phase 6, another transportation study must be completed.

The first phase of Eagle's Crest was approved four years ago as a 15-lot subdivision on 172 acres. The small development of mainly luxury and vacation homes was followed quickly by Phases 2 and 3 with 70 lots on 381 acres.

Phase 4, featuring 115 lots on 393 acres and an airstrip, was approved earlier this year.

The proposed final five phases include single-family homes, condominiums, a golf course and club house.

All the phases combined, including the proposed five through nine, could have as many as 1,025 residential lots and would double the current population of Lakeside.

During the public hearing, a number of reports were given by different agencies and organizations.

The Planning Board and members of the public both expressed confusion in terms of what information to believe. Studies on water impacts, slope and soil were called into question.

Brent Hall, a former member of the Planning Board, said, "I don't want to screw up the lake, but I don't know who to believe. I can't really say whether I'm for or against the plan."

Hall also said he felt as if this particular development were being singled out and put on trial.

The considerable impact the development would have on traffic safety in Lakeside was one of the major concerns of the 25 people who gave comments to the board.

Bruce Barrett, a Lakeside resident, said the facts presented Wednesday were unclear and that the traffic study presented was inadequate.

In its report, the planning staff noted the increased density would create a traffic hazard on a dangerous stretch of U.S. 93. This summer, two pedestrians were killed along the highway in the Lakeside and Somers areas.

Most of the concerns dealt with the impacts of the project's dense nature.

The unzoned area is open to unregulated development. The only document guiding density is the 1987 master plan that states the area should have only one lot per 20 acres.

Of the density, Eric Giles said, "This is an area that is unzoned. Yes, it does go against the master plan, but we can't deny it based on that. The high density here is a result of a failure to plan."

Those speaking in favor of the subdivision touted the economic growth the development likely would create. Seasonal residents of the community would pay a sizable amount in property taxes but wouldn't require much in the way of services.

After several hours of public comment, Schaefer, the developer, addressed the board.

"Everything you asked us to do, we've done," he said. "If there is more required, we will do it."

Schaefer called his proposal the single best development he's brought the board in his 10 years of developing.

"The nature of our project is to give back more than we take," he said.

For two hours the board discussed and amended a number of findings and conditions for the proposal.

Two of the significant conditions dealt with guest houses and accesses. A condition prohibiting guest houses on any lot was added as well as a condition requiring a third primary access road. Giles said that the third access would help alleviate traffic hazards on U.S. 93. The third access is to connect with Blacktail Road more than a mile north of the development.

With the added conditions, the board voted 5-4 to give Eagle's Crest a recommendation of approval. The recommendation goes to the county commissioners, who will make a final decision.

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