Bigfork Neighborhood Plan off to county

By MIKE RICHESON

Bigfork Eagle

With onlookers applauding, members of the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee officially signed off on the completed Bigfork Neighborhood Plan on Thursday.

“Well, shall we sign this thing?” BLUAC chairman John Bourquin asked.

Shelley Gonzales moved that the group officially sign the document, and the motion passed unanimously.

While the plan was being signed, Flathead County Planning Department Assistant Director BJ Grieve offered his congratulations.

“Nice job. This is fantastic,” Grieve said. “We’re not going to look at this document with the intent to make a lot of changes. We’ll check for any glaring inconsistencies and conflicts with the county document.”

The Bigfork Neighborhood Plan will now make its way through the county levels before being accepted by the commissioners.

BLUAC’s initial proposal that the county hold a public hearing in Bigfork for public comment on the plan is now unlikely, according to Grieve. Before the commissioners officially accept the neighborhood plan, a 30-day period for public comment will be opened to the public.

Anyone with comment may send it in to the county at that time.

Executive members of the Bigfork Steering Committee also signed off on the document. Previous officers signed during the BLUAC workshop, and current officers signed the plan during their regularly scheduled meeting at noon.