Flood-plain wording kept in countys draft subdivision regulations

Language to discourage building homes in Flathead Countys flood plains is tentatively staying in the countys proposed subdivision regulations.

Two commissioners Joe Brenneman and Dale Lauman favored keeping the language in a rough draft of the regulations Monday, while Gary Hall had qualms about that approach.

The commissioners spent part of Monday examining some of the proposed subdivision regulations as recommended by the county Planning Board.

The regulations will not affect existing houses and other buildings, including those near streams. The regulations will go into play only when an owner decides to subdivide a piece of land.

The commissioners plan to discuss the most controversial part of the proposed subdivision regulations setbacks from streams on Dec. 1.

The commissioners actually will vote on all the regulations after the setback issues and some other matters are addressed.

Homes current and new in flood plains can create problems for dealing with wells, septic waste and responding to emergencies if the land and roads are underwater.

While the proposed subdivision regulations wont totally forbid new homes in flood plains, the new rules would strongly discourage those residences from being located there, Flathead County Planning Director Jeff Harris said.

Brenneman said flooding is inevitable in the flood plains and the county has plenty of land elsewhere for people to develop.

Lauman agreed. But he added that any flood-plain land that can be proven to have been dry during the massive floods of 1964 should be removed from any flood-plain considerations.

Hall said he worried about flood-plain restrictions affecting parts of Evergreen.