New billboards violate county rules

A couple of billboards have sprouted up along the new U.S. 93 bypass west of Kalispell where they aren’t legal, according to the county planning director.

Flathead County Planning Director BJ Grieve recently told county commissioners that Lamar Advertising has been notified the billboards erected on the bypass need to be removed.

The company will appeal that ruling, he said, so no final decision has been reached.

No new billboards can be erected in any part of Flathead County where zoning regulations are in place, Grieve said.

That’s been the law since 2003, after a 10-year phase-in period during which billboard companies had to bring existing billboards into compliance with county zoning rules.

In another planning department issue, commissioners approved the preliminary plat for the Swan Peak Homestead development a mile north of Bigfork.

Last month the Planning Board recommended that the commissioners approve the plan.

The Swan Peak development is to include 17 residential lots on the west side of the 120-acre development. Developers plan to set aside eight acres of park land on the east side of the development. Another 53 acres are to be placed in a conservation easement.

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