Eco camp planned near Whitefish
A proposal to create an eco-friendly camp and retreat center near the Whitefish Assembly of God Church south of Whitefish goes to the Flathead County Board of Adjustment for a public hearing on Feb. 2.
Karrow Properties is asking for a conditional-use permit to establish the camp and retreat center at 1545 and 1555 Karrow Ave. The center would be located on the southern 19 acres of a 34-acre tract, according to the Flathead County Planning Office staff report.
The center would be called Eco Retreat of Whitefish and would consist of 11 yurts that could accommodate up to 22 guests.
Applicants Jake Christiansen and Yvonne May, who direct the local chapter of the Snowboarders & Skiers for Christ outreach ministry, intend to use the facility to provide environmental awareness educational retreats. The center would incorporate green building and landscaping elements.
The facility could be rented to other local groups wanting to host retreats and conferences.
The Board of Adjustment has three other public hearings on its Feb. 2 agenda:
n Winter Park Ventures is seeking a zoning variance within the U.S. 93 North Zoning District to construct an entrance/exit sign for Majestic Valley Arena. The applicant wants to erect a larger, more visible sign on the property. The suburban agricultural zoning in the area, however, allows for only one freestanding sign, plus one wall sign for each place of business, that cannot exceed 40 square feet.
“The Majestic Valley Arena has operated a small reader board-type sign on wheels at the northern entrance to the facility for 10 years,” the Planning Office staff report notes. “It is small and difficult to read while traveling at 70 mph on U.S. 93.”
n David Van Buren, on behalf of Word of Life, is asking for a conditional-use permit to establish a church on 5.6 acres at the north end of Hathaway Lane near Kalispell. A future family life center also is planned, the staff report stated.
n Betsy Morrison is requesting a variance to front-yard setback requirements at 141 Viano Lane in the West Valley Zoning District. The West Valley Land Use Advisory Committee will discuss the request at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Stillwater Grange Hall, 1370 Old Reserve Dr.
Morrison needs the variance to allow the continued placement of a mobile home that encroaches into the front-yard setback. While the mobile home is about 33 feet from the center line of Viano Lane, which is the applicant’s property line, it is only 3 feet from the edge of the 60-foot private road easement, according to the staff report.
The mobile home is used as a family hardship dwelling, which is a permitted use in the West Valley Zoning District.
The Board of Adjustment meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 2, in the second-floor conference room of the Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W. in Kalispell.
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.