Proposed development regulations near Glacier Park International Airport up for review by Flathead County Planning Board

A proposed ordinance that sets new restrictions on new development within a certain distance of Glacier Park International Airport will be reviewed by the Flathead County Planning Board on Wednesday. 

The planning board’s monthly meeting will move to the Country Fair Kitchen Building at the Flathead County Fairgrounds, 265 N. Meridian Road in Kalispell. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a workshop to discuss the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan.  

The Flathead County Planning and Zoning Department drafted an ordinance in coordination with the Flathead Municipal Airport Authority to comply with a 2025 state law, which says that tall trees, structures and certain types of development within an airport’s vicinity can endanger both the public and airport operations. 

The proposed ordinance creates a three-layered zone, called the Airport Affected Area, or AAA, around Glacier Park International Airport. The airport is located within the zone’s central layer, labeled as the Runway Protection Area, which covers approximately 3,125 acres and is shaped like a cross. New subdivisions within the zone must have a minimum lot size of 5 acres, with one lot per 20 acres, according to the drafted ordinance. 

A second zone around the cross-shaped layer is the Airport Protection Area and covers 9,175 acres. New subdivisions developed within this zone must have a minimum lot size of 1 acre, with one lot per 5 acres. 

The outer layer is the general Airport Affected Area and covers approximately 21,180 acres. There are no added restrictions on subdivisions within this zone.  

All proposed development projects within the Airport Affected Area must go through the Federal Aviation Administration’s pre-screening tool, at oeaaa.fa.gov, to see if an FAA Form 7460-1 Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration is required. If the form is required, developers will need to apply for an AAA Structure Permit through the Flathead County Planning and Zoning Department.  

Existing structures out of compliance with the proposed ordinance are allowed to remain. However, expansion of existing, non-conforming structures are subject to new restrictions under the proposed ordinance. An existing, non-conforming structure demolished or destroyed cannot be rebuilt without the required permit after the proposed ordinance goes into effect. 

A public hearing on the proposed ordinance will be held.  

THE PLANNING Board will also review an application for a zone change on two properties located at 110 S. Hilltop Road and 6470 U.S. 2 W. near Columbia Falls. Breanna Cathers, who filed on behalf of the property owners, is requesting to rezone the property from R-3 One Family Limited Residential to B-2 General Business.  

The zone change would allow for mixed-use development permitted within B-2 zones, according to the application. There is currently a single-family dwelling on each property, which are a cumulative 4.77 acres in size. 

A workshop following immediately after the meeting will discuss changes to the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan.  

Report for America Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 406-758-4439 or hshields@dailyinterlake.com. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.