BLUAC denies zone change on Swan River Road

By ALEX STRICKLAND / Bigfork Eagle

The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee recommended denial to the Flathead County Planning Board for a proposed zone change on Swan River Road that woul have changed the minimum lot size on 59 acres from 10 acres to five.

About a dozen neighbors came to the meeting to speak during public comment, and without exception expressed their opposition to the change citing the density a SAG-5 zone would permit and how it would change the rural feel of the neighborhood.

Becky Hughes, who has lived on a farm adjacent to the property her whole life, read from prepared comments and expressed concern over potential increased traffic, increased light pollution, possible difficulties with septic systems because of the high ground water and proximity to the Swan River and an incompatible density, among other concerns.

Flathead County Planning and Zoning staff Andrew Heiglemier recommended approval, but BLUAC voted unanimously against the proposal. It will be heard next before the planning board.

In other business at the Meeting BLUAC approved the draft Bigfork Neighborhood Plan, part of another step that next takes the document before the Planning Board next week, April 9.

Assistant Director of the PLanning and oning Office, BJ Grieve, cited a few areas that had come up as a concern, including a comment from the Flathead County Public Works Director, Dave Prunty.

His comments stemmed from a portion of the plan that advocated improvements to the green box site on Highway 83 north of Bigfork. Prunty said in his comments that the Bigfork site could be the victim of consolodation in the not-too-distant-future and that even if it stays in operation, the site is constrained by a narrow easement and suggested improvements — like a berm — aren't feasible.

BLUAC voted unanimously to send the plan on to the Planning Board where it will be heard and voted on before going to the County Commisioners.

BLUAC also heard from Erica Wirtela of Sands Surveying in regard to her clients Chuck Sneed and Mike Touris, who were denied a zone change by county commissioners last month. Wirtela asked if BLUAC had any recommendations on what her clients might seek if they came back with another type of application, citing BLUAC Vice-chairman Shelley Gonzales' comments at the commissioners meeting that BLUAC would like to work with them.

However, in the time since that meeting, Sneed and Touris have filed suit against the county and BLUAC alledging unfair treatment and seeking judgement as well as damages.

Because of the litigation, BLUAC members were brief with Wirtela, telling her that in the current situation the board was in no position to discuss the application.