Flathead County zoning requests eye smaller lots

Two proposed zone changes to be considered Wednesday, March 14, by the Flathead County Planning Board aim to create smaller lot sizes on rural land.

Property owner Marie E. Wolfe is asking the board to change the zoning on 19.9 acres at Squirrel Lane from AG-20, agricultural with a 20-acre minimum lot size, to SAG-5, suburban agricultural with a 5-acre minimum lot size. The heavily wooded property is located within the Blanchard Lake Zoning District.

Wolfe is asking for the zoning map amendment to be able to complete a family transfer of two 5-acre parcels to her son, according to the planning staff report. The report further notes there have been other recent zoning map amendments in that area to SAG-5. Also, the parcel is non-conforming because it’s zoned AG-20, but is less than 20 acres in size. The amendment would bring it into conformance.

A second zone change involves a switch from SAG-10 to SAG-5 in the Highway 93 North Zoning District.

Property owners Arnold and Janice Laxton, Kelly Moe and David and Naomi Manuwal want the zone change on about 36 acres at 2915 Whitefish Stage Road, 2930 and 2950 Rufenach Lane. They’re seeking the change so their property aligns more closely with land use on surrounding properties.

Public hearings will be held on the zoning requests.

A third public hearing will consider preliminary plat approval of Big Sky Vista, a three-lot residential development on 15 acres at 137 Jossie Lane in the West Valley Zoning District. Gary and Royce Graves are the applicants.

The board will meet at 6 p.m. in the second-floor conference room of the South Campus Building 40 11th St. W. in Kalispell.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.