Learning center, rifle range permits OK'd

The Flathead County Board of Adjustment unanimously approved conditional use permits for a family learning center and rifle range on Tuesday.

John Cuthbertson requested a conditional use permit for property at 24 West Evergreen Drive to be used as a family learning center.

The center would be operated by Intermountain, a nonprofit organization based in Helena that specializes in programs and services for children and families in distress.

According to the staff report from the Planning Office, the family learning center would be open during the day Monday through Saturday, during which time trained staff would be present to supervise and assist with visitations and educational courses. No one would live on site, and the center would be closed at night.

A conditional use permit for a rifle range was approved for Richard and Mary Sonju.

It would be part of an expansion of Sonju Industries, a firearms and aerospace manufacturing facility at 2902 U.S. 93 North, one mile north of West Reserve Drive.

The expansion also would include a retail store. The existing structure is 6,300 square feet and the proposed new structure would be 34,000 square feet. An existing home would be removed to accommodate additional parking.

The rifle range would be partially underground, fully enclosed by concrete walls and a roof, according to the staff report.

The 2.27-acre property is a nonconforming use that has been grandfathered. It evolved from an auto-body repair and coatings facility that was in operation prior to adoption of the Highway 93 North Zoning District in 1991.

Separately, a request to add a new commercial greenbelt zoning district to county zoning regulations was postponed Wednesday by the Flathead County Planning Board.

It will be considered on Oct. 13, assistant planning director B.J. Grieve said.

Consideration of a zoning change and map amendment for the 79 acres covered by the commercial greenbelt zoning district also was postponed until Oct. 13.

The property is located east of U.S. 93 between Ponderosa Lane and Autumn Court, north of Reserve Drive and south of Church Drive across the road from Silverbrook Estates, which is in Kalispell city limits.