Hearing looks at proposed Bigfork development

The Flathead County Planning Board will hold a public hearing Wednesday on a preliminary-plat proposal for a 79-lot subdivision known as “The Settlement” in Bigfork.

The proposed subdivision is a 68-acre spread located at 7645 Montana 35 in Bigfork and will consist of 11 commercial lots and 68 residential lots. The applicant, Joseph Eslick, is proposing the property be developed in eight phases.

Submitted by Bigfork 26, LLC, on behalf of Eslick, the sudivision is planned on property zoned B-2 general business and R-2 one-family limited residential. According to staff reports, the proposal complies with the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan and other policies and zoning regulations.

The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee forwarded a recommendation of denial for the subdivision to the Planning Board in late February after holding a public hearing. The Planning Board’s recommendation will move to the Flathead County commissioners for final consideration.

Two zone-change requests are also on the agenda. One request is from Robert W. and Christi Young for two properties in Bigfork on approximately 1.5 acres from commercial country corner-class 1 to general business. The second is from Sands Surveying on behalf of Skyview Mobile Home Park, LLC for a property in the Evergreen Zoning District. The applicant is proposing the zoning on the 2.57-acre property be changed from one-family limited residential to two-family limited tesidential.

The Planning Board will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the South Campus Building, 40 11th St. W. in Kalispell.

Reporter Kianna Gardner can be reached at 758-4439 or kgardner@dailyinterlake.com