KGEZ tower relocation proposal nixed
KGEZ’s radio towers will not be relocated to the West Valley.
The Flathead County Board of Adjustment on Tuesday upheld an appeal filed by West Valley resident Linda Newgard, which voided KGEZ’s request for a conditional-use permit to erect two 325-foot transmission towers on farmland at the northwest corner of Farm to Market Road and Clark Drive near Kalispell.
Newgard, who lives at 905 Clark Drive, alleged county Zoning Administrator Mark Mussman failed to consider the West Valley Neighborhood Plan land use and goals to “maintain the scenic quality” and to “continue to prohibit commercial uses.”
Mussman ruled May 31 the county zoning code doesn’t make any distinction between commercial or non-commercial communication towers, and said Hendricks’ request could move forward in the process.
Newgard also wrote a letter to Mussman, stating she believed his ruling flies in the face of “well-established case law and planning statutes governing zoning and neighborhood plans and growth policies.
“Commercial uses in the West Valley Neighborhood Plan are very specifically limited to one convenience store in one specific location and to home businesses,” Newgard asserted. “This limitation was a carefully debated and adopted part of the West Valley plan in large part to retain the rural residential and agricultural character of the plan area, and the property values and rights of those investing in this plan area.”
Newgard was not alone in her opposition. The KGEZ tower proposal drew considerable opposition, with West Valley residents alleging the towers would lower their property values, degrade the scenic quality of the area, have potential negative impacts on human health and impact bird and wildlife habitat.
A group called West Valley Residents for Quality Growth mailed a flyer to residents of the area, alerting them of the proposal and asking them to attend the Board of Adjustment meeting and send letters to the Planning Office.
KGEZ station owner John Hendricks said he has to find a new location for the towers because the lease where the towers now are situated won’t be renewed because the land is eyed for development.
“This was really disappointing,” Hendricks said about the board’s decision. “We’ll have to look for alternatives, and I’m open to suggestions.
“I don’t intend to be anywhere where we’re not wanted,” he said. “The people of West Valley made it very clear they don’t want it there.”
Public opposition was a factor in another tower proposal that was heard by the Board of Adjustment on Tuesday.
The board rejected Don and Paul Herbert’s request for a conditional-use permit to erect a cellular communication tower at 1291 Belton Stage Road in the Middle Canyon Zoning District.
The Herberts also had asked for a zoning variance to allow the tower. Based on the distance from U.S. 2, the Herberts could be permitted to have a 103-foot tower with a conditional-use permit, but they asked for a 150-foot tower.
Neighbors in the Belton Stage Road area voiced their opposition during the public hearing, opposing the intrusion of such a tall tower.
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.