Yoga center near Bigfork seeking permit changes

A Bigfork-area yoga center will apply to change its conditional-use permit to allow gatherings on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Dana and Craig Stoddard told the Flathead County Board of Adjustment Tuesday that they plan to ask for that change in their conditional-use permit for Montanabliss, a yoga retreat center on Wild Swan Trail.

Montanabliss and some neighbors have clashed over whether the center creates too much noise and traffic for an area that is zoned for agricultural and residential lots with minimum sizes of 20 acres.

Some complaints surfaced over whether Montanabliss exceeded what is allowed in its conditional-use permit by having a boutique-like store on the site, by holding regular Tuesday and Thursday evening classes, and planning to hold a three-day yoga camp last December that was canceled because the permit would not allow it.

The Montanabliss permit limits classes to between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. And it limits major multiple-day events to three times in June, July and August.

The Stoddards said they plan to apply to expand their conditional-use permit to allow regular evening meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

"We really don't want to lose those classes. We have a really great core group," Craig Stoddard said.

The Stoddards closed the boutique store, which wouldn't be legally allowed in an agriculturally zoned area under any scenario. The Stoddards also said they will apply for permission for extra multiple-day seminars on a case-by-case basis.

A public hearing will be scheduled when the Stoddards apply for the permit change.

In the past, some Bigfork people plus those using the yoga center supported it being placed in the neighborhood, arguing it has little impact while providing benefits to its users.

The Stoddards have listed the site for a possible sale.

They are testing the real estate market in case they decide to move, which they might do if the Board of Adjustment denies permission for the Tuesday and Thursday evening classes.

"It's to see what options are available," Craig Stoddard said.

In a related matter, a Christian mysticism center's request is still on hold for a conditional-use permit in the same neighborhood - a matter that has been unresolved since Oct. 7, 2008.

The planning department is trying to work out an agreement between the center's owner, Naader Shagagi, and the neighbors.