Columbia Falls property rezone goes before county planning board for vote
The Flathead County Planning Board on Wednesday is set to vote on a request for a zone change for 12 acres in Columbia Heights.
The board tabled a decision at its June meeting after one neighbor of the proposed project raised concerns with errors in the county planning staff report. Location Acquisitions is seeking to change the zoning on the property on U.S. 2 from SAG-10 to R-1.
The public hearing on the request was closed following last month’s planning board meeting where several spoke against the request.
The county planning board meets at 6 p.m. in the South Campus Building at 40 11th St. W. in Kalispell. Recommendations from the planning board regarding the requests are forwarded to the Flathead County Commissioners for final consideration.
The rezone request would change the minimum lot size from 10 acres to 1 acre, if approved. The application with the county says the developer intends to develop single-family residences to allow it to “make use of the value of the land and location to meet market demand for housing in the Flathead Valley due to significant population growth.”
Four public hearings are also on the agenda and expected for consideration by the board.
Quarter Circle LA Ranches is requesting to rezone about 14 acres at 150 Ranch Road in Bigfork. The zoning would change from business resort to suburban residential.
Suzanne Wahl is seeking approval for the construction of a guest cabin on 20.22 acres at 1291 Belton Stage Road in West Glacier.
Melvin Peter and Emileigh Andra are seeking preliminary plat approval for the resubdivision of two lots in the River Camp Subdivision, located at 964 and 1020 Riverside Road in Kalispell. The proposal would create four residential lots on 9.89 acres.
Missoula Saws Inc. is seeking preliminary plat approval for Saw Performance Subdivision, a proposal to create two commercial lots on 4.97 acres at 5322 U.S. 2 near Columbia Falls. The proposed lots are developed with a commercial saw shop and mini-storage units.
The board is scheduled to vote on a request by Thomas and Sally Cheff to rezone 32 acres from AG-80 to SAG-10 at 2562 Trumble Creek Road, near Kalispell. The public hearing has been closed.
Three items regarding a proposed subdivision in Bigfork that had been on the agenda have been placed on hold until further notice at the request of the developer. Longbow Land Partners has applied with the county for a zone change, planned unit development and preliminary plat for 105 acres on Montana 35 in Bigfork. The developer is proposing to create 125 single-family homes on the property.
Features Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.