County to hold hearing on West Glacier work camps

The Flathead County commissioners are scheduled to hold a public hearing Tuesday morning on a proposal to allow "work camps" for seasonal employees in the West Glacier area.

The proposal — an amendment to the Canyon Area Land Use Regulatory System — would allow work camps consisting of "camping spaces, trailer parking spaces, mobile, modular or other permanent structures," as well as accompanying water, sewer and solid waste systems.

The Middle Canyon Land Use Advisory Committee formed a group of local residents and business owners to draft the proposal as employers said they struggled to find suitable housing for their workers, with growing visitation to Glacier National Park and an increasing number of units being occupied as short-term rentals.

"This amendment gives local business owners the flexibility to provide seasonal housing in the form of a work camp while ensuring the health and safety of their employees and the community," the advisory committee wrote. "These performance standards balance the employer's responsibility to provide quality, lower-cost employee housing … while keeping the employee housing structures in character with business sites and preserving the integrity and community character of West Glacier."

The Flathead County Planning Board unanimously endorsed the proposal in January. The county commissioners, who can give the proposal a final stamp of approval, were scheduled to hold a hearing on the matter on March 25 but it was postponed.

Tuesday's hearing is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. on the third floor of the county courthouse, 800 S. Main St. in Kalispell.

UNDER THE proposal, there would be a public comment period of at least 15 days before the county approves a permit for a work camp. Any water, sewer and solid waste systems would have to comply with local and state health regulations. And the developer of a work camp would have to provide one off-street parking space for each employee housed there.

The proposed regulations state each work camp would have to be surrounded by a "visual screen," such as a fence or a barrier of vegetation. All camps would have to observe "quiet hours" between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and "shall take care to reduce all noise, dust and fumes to the greatest extent possible."

The camps would have to be set back at least 20 feet from all property lines, at least 150 feet from the U.S. 2 right of way and at least 50 feet from the Flathead River. More distance from the Middle Fork of the river may be required under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Additionally, all food at work camps would have to be stored in buildings or bear-resistant containers. The camps would have to maintain access for emergency vehicles. And any campfire pits, barbecue areas and storage areas for flammable materials would have to undergo annual safety reviews by a local fire chief. Campfires would be prohibited when fire danger in the area is rated as "high" or above.

Reporter Chad Sokol can be reached at 758-4439 or csokol@dailyinterlake.com