Representatives of a possible improvement on a 155-acre chunk of property on KM Ranch Street say it might present wanted housing for the Flathead Valley. However neighbors of the venture say it’s not accountable development to herald greater than 200 housing models to the world.
Each side offered their views to the Flathead County Planning Board on Wednesday night time, with many of the commenters asking the board to disclaim a zone change request for the property that sits simply north of the county landfill boarding U.S. 93.
Audio system additionally raised considerations concerning the scope of potential improvement on the property, rising visitors within the space, impacts on the atmosphere and wildlife, including college students to already full colleges, dropping forestland, stretching public security sources additional and the change improvement on the property may need to the character of the neighborhood.
Montarise Developments, LLC is requesting a zone change for 3 parcels of land situated on the north aspect of KM Ranch Street simply north of the county landfill. Although the difficulty earlier than the board was solely a zone change, Montarise representatives spoke about additional plans involving 268 housing models and 20 acres set for business use.
Glenn Edwards, vice chairman of Montarise, stated the corporate goals to handle the scarcity of housing within the Flathead Valley.
“The folks earlier than us accepted change to make a spot for us,” he stated. “There’s solely minimal workforce housing accessible now and we wish to be a part of the answer for that.”
Talking towards the proposal throughout public remark, Ron Bruce informed the planning board that the “actual Montana is a lifestyle that should be protected.”
“Progress is inevitable, however development with out correct planning is irresponsible,” Bruce stated. “There isn’t a disaster for many who stay right here — it’s a disaster for many who stay elsewhere.”
After listening to about two hours of public remark and receiving round 100 written feedback, the planning board on Wednesday voted to push a choice on the request till its Oct. 12 assembly.
Roughly 200 folks have been in attendance on the assembly held on the Flathead County Fairgrounds. About 45 folks spoke through the assembly with all the feedback towards the request.
Board Chair Jeff Larson stated that whereas he realized individuals are anxious for a choice the prudent step could be to delay.
“We owe it to all of the individuals who gave us feedback to think about these,” he stated. “It doesn’t do it justice to the trouble that individuals put in to make feedback if we do not contemplate these.”
The request is to alter the zoning from SAG-5 suburban agricultural to R-1 suburban residential, which would cut back the minimal lot measurement from 5 acres to 1 acre. Underneath present zoning, the Montarise property might be developed with about 30 tons, however following the zone change that may transfer to about 150 tons.
Any determination by the planning board is a advice that finally is forwarded to the county commissioners for a choice.
WHILE MONTARISE has submitted functions to the county for a preliminary plat and deliberate unit improvement, these functions are incomplete and due to this fact haven’t been scheduled to go earlier than the planning board. They do present what Montarise is probably going planning.
Plans define 135 acres as designated for housing with 92 single-family models and 176 multi-family models. The paperwork say that about 44 acres could be put aside for open house and parks.
For the three business tons, one could be put aside for a church or faculty, one other for a enterprise park and the third could be for a 73-unit RV park situated alongside U.S. 93.
Outlining the plan, Edwards stated Montarise needs to create high quality housing in a improvement that may give attention to creating pocket neighborhoods with various varieties of housing clustered collectively. He stated the corporate plans to give attention to creating condominiums for possession, together with various sizes of single-family properties, that enable house owners to maneuver into bigger housing whereas remaining in the identical neighborhood.
Seemingly addressing some who stated if the property have been to alter they’d slightly see 5-acre and 10-acre parcels like in surrounding areas, Edwards stated the general density of the venture is 2 models per acre.
“Any lower than that and it might disregard the necessity for inexpensive housing,” he stated. “If extra models usually are not dropped at the market it’ll finally necessitate much more density in such improvement sooner or later. Montarise might be a part of the answer to supply housing.”
Mark Liechti, with APEC Engineering which represents the developer, informed the planning board that the venture has been well-designed and is centrally situated between the valley’s cities. He too stated that the venture would supply a obligatory mixture of housing varieties that many say is required, however don’t need in their very own yard.
“They are saying ‘we want this, simply not right here,’” he stated.
DURING PUBLIC remark, Julie Rommel, a member of Buddies for Accountable Rural Progress a bunch that shaped in opposition to the proposal, listed off lots of the considerations raised by the opposite audio system on the assembly saying that the venture is a menace to the standard of life right here and gives zero neighborhood profit.
“Our opposition is a lot greater than what’s in our yard,” she stated.
Amy Esmay stated she worries concerning the impression on colleges which are already crowded.
“This may completely disfigure Whitefish,” she stated.
Joe DeCree stated a former plan for the property with about 55 tons would have been preferable.
“Discover there are not any 20-something youngsters in right here searching for a starter house,” he stated, referencing the group. “We do want housing within the county, however this isn’t it.”
Jenna Anderson referred to as it a “fallacy” to say that including extra homes will convey down actual property costs creating inexpensive housing.
“Flathead County doesn’t have to construct a shiny new home for everybody that comes right here,” she stated.
Heather Hodges, like a number of different audio system, informed the planning board that the choice earlier than them is broader than one improvement.
“This may essentially have an effect on everybody that needs to protect the Flathead Valley for the long run,” she stated.
Options Editor Heidi Desch could also be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.
