Two camp and retreat center proposals pitched
’Tis the season for camp and retreat center proposals.
Two separate projects will be considered by the Flathead County Board of Adjustment at its Jan. 3 meeting, with the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee weighing in on one of the proposed retreat centers at its meeting Thursday, Dec. 29.
Monica Harris and Lisa Gilbert are asking for a conditional-use permit to establish a camp and retreat center on property within the Bigfork Zoning District. The roughly 20-acre parcel, located at 500 Wild Swan Trail, is zoned county agricultural with a 20-acre minimum lot size. The applicants want to develop a camp and retreat center incorporating a wilderness retreat with agricultural-themed educational outdoor activities and “artists in residence.”
The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee makes recommendations on land-use projects in the Bigfork area and forwards them to the county. The committee meets at 4 p.m. Thursday at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork.
Harris and Gilbert’s proposal will be considered by the Flathead County Board of Adjustment at its Jan. 3 meeting. Board of Adjustment decisions are considered final actions.
Also on the Board of Adjustment’s upcoming agenda is a request from Scott and Megan Lester for a conditional-use permit to establish a camp and retreat center on property located within the U.S. 93 North Zoning District that is zoned rural residential, with a minimum lot size of 2.5 acres.
The Lesters’ property, about 65 acres, is located at 230 and 250 Bauer Way. They want to develop the center to incorporate farming and agricultural-themed educational and recreational outdoor activities and cabins for farm stays.
The Lesters operate Whitefish Stage Organic Farms along with partners Julia and Ted Wycall. Their farm model is known as Community Supported Agriculture, in which farm shares are sold up-front to members who then can pick up their portion of fresh vegetables directly from the farm each week throughout the growing season.
The Board of Adjustment also will consider a request by Tailing Loop Winery for a conditional-use permit to establish a tavern, specifically a domestic winery and tasting room, within the Willow Glen Zoning District. The 1.3-acre tract, at 1490 and 1498 Montana 35 in Evergreen, is zoned general business and is within the Evergreen Enterprise Overlay Zone that gives commercial businesses more zoning flexibility.
Public hearings will be held on both the Lester and Tailing Loop Winery proposals.
The Board of Adjustment meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, in the second-floor conference room of the South Campus Building, 40 11th St. W., Suite 200, in Kalispell.