New county fee schedule nearly done

A new fee schedule for services and work done by the Flathead County Planning and Zoning Office is nearing final approval.

The county commissioners have been presented a final draft of the new fees — some of which are higher and others lower than current fees. Commissioners indicated at their meeting last week they were ready to sign off on the latest round of revisions. Once they adopt a resolution, the new fees will become effective. That action is expected sometime in April.

The schedule is now “something I can administer,” Planning Director BJ Grieve said. The new schedule includes a provision that allows people to appeal fee decisions to the county commission, “a relief valve for the consumer,” he said.

Various incarnations of the schedule previously have been presented to the commissioners, the Planning Board and “a variety of eyes and interests” in the community, Grieve said.

All of the various revisions have resulted in a better document, he said.

Commissioner Pam Holmquist agreed. “I think this has evolved pretty well,” she said.

“You did a great job,” commissioner Jim Dupont said. “Sometimes government doesn’t do a good job of revising and lowering fees. We are trying to be fair to citizens.”

Most fees have been reduced, Grieve said. Increases are proposed only when necessary to be fair and consistent between review processes.

The new schedule would change the way subdivisions are classified and fees assessed. The old fee schedule charged $1,050 for a base fee for a preliminary plat for a major subdivision, $112 per lot for the first 20 additional lots and $56 per lot for any lots in excess of 20.

The new schedule assesses a $1,000 preliminary plat fee for a major subdivision and $75 per lot for any lots in excess of six.

Final plat fees change from $840 plus $56 a lot for subdivisions with six or more lots to $800 plus $50 a lot.

A final plat for a minor subdivision would drop to $400, plus $50 a lot, from the current $560 and $56 per lot fee.

Currently, the county charges $700 for a zoning text amendment. That fee would increase to $800. The fee for a zoning variance on a single-family residential property would change from $420 to $350. The price of a zoning variance for nonresidential properties stays the same, $700.

Likewise, the fee for a floodplain permit stays at $350. Appeals or variance requests in a floodplain will carry a lower fee of $500, compared to $560 now charged.

The full proposed new fee schedule is available for review online at the county’s website.

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or by email at sridenour@dailyinterlake.com.