Commissioners to vote on growth policy update

The Flathead County commissioners are expected to make a final decision Friday on an update of the county growth policy.

Citing an extensive public process, the commissioners decided some time ago not to hold a public hearing before final consideration of a resolution to adopt revisions made to the 2007 growth policy. 

State law does not require the county to hold a hearing.

In lieu of a chance to voice their opinions, county residents were able to submit written comments until Oct. 1. Close to 300 letters have been received. Of those comments, 47 were in favor of the updated growth policy, 240 opposed the changes and 12 letters were “unclear as to where they stood,” according to Diana Kile, clerk to the commissioners.

The county also received petitions opposed to the changes that contained 451 signatures on 60 pages.

The commissioners will consider adoption of the final resolution at 9:15 a.m. Friday; anyone wanting to comment may do so during the general public comment session that begins at 9 a.m. and is open to anyone who wants to speak on any issue. 

The commissioners also have a 15-minute window for public comments on any matter starting at 8:45 a.m. today.

The final draft includes a property owners bill of rights, a new chapter on gravel resources and a user’s manual among the changes to the nonregulatory document.

Among the property rights included in the update is the premise that “all landowners will receive fair and equal treatment during their interaction with the county and during the review and processing of all land use applications.”

The final draft also lists a number of requirements that must be met in land-use regulations “because of the increasing emphasis by the Montana courts on the ‘regulatory’ nature of growth policies.”

The final draft can be found at http://flathead.mt.gov; go to the Planning and Zoning Department and click on the growth policy link.