Flathead County Planning Board looks at changes to Canyon plan

The Flathead County Planning Board on Wednesday will look at updates to the plan that regulates development in the Canyon area.  

The board will consider proposed amendments to the Canyon Area Land Use Regulatory System. The changes would clarify policies and procedures, along with amending guest cabin and short-term rental standards.  

The county Planning Board meets at 6 p.m. in the South Campus Building at 40 11th St. W. in Kalispell. Recommendations from the board regarding the requests are forwarded to the Flathead County commissioners for final consideration. 

Changes being made to the document include updates to the definitions made to link the short-term rental housing and guest cabin uses.  

The changes to the guest cabin, which can be used as a short-term rental, definition would allow for no more than two bedrooms. The changes to the guest cottage definition clarify that only one guest cottage is allowed per tract of record and that they can’t be used as short-term rental housing.  

Also under the update, it would set out the procedure for one short-term rental housing to be issued with a minor land use review permit. If the request is for more than one short-term rental unit on a single tract of land then it is classified as guest cabins and would be required to meet the major land use review requirements.  

In addition, for short-term rentals, one sign no larger than 1 square foot would now be allowed to indicate the rental. Previously, signage was not allowed other than the typical address numbers.  

Changes clarify that short-term rentals within the principal dwelling must have a minimum of two off-street parking spaces and for dwellings with four or more bedrooms, one additional space is required. Guest cabin short-term rentals need a minimum of two spaces.  

A change to the plan would require that garbage be kept in bear-proof containers.  

TWO OTHER public hearings are on the agenda.  

A zone change request from Cori and Steven Smith for property at 22 Meadowlark Drive near Kalispell. The proposal would change the zoning on .296 acres from R-3 one family residential to R-4 two-family residential.  

The property contains a single-family dwelling, a detached garage and a shed. The after-the-fact zone change is requested due to a recent construction project by the owner.  

A request from Valley Vista, Inc. for preliminary plat approval of Copper Flats Subdivision, which proposes to create four residential units on 20 acres. The property is located off Glacier Flats Road.  

The property is undeveloped.  

Deputy Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.