Lakeside Council releases draft neighborhood plan

After more than a year of intensive study and an equally aggressive meeting schedule, the Lakeside Neighborhood Plan Committee presented their revised neighborhood plan to the Lakeside Community Council last Tuesday.

Despite drawing the largest crowd in many months, the highly anticipated meeting proved to be somewhat anticlimactic, since only the council members had been able to review the document at that time and none of the people who had come especially for the occasion was prepared to volunteer any comment.

"We have been working and compiling information for the plan revision since November of 2007," Lakeside Neighborhood Plan Committee chair Debbie Spaulding said. "This committee now feels that we have a complete and accurate view of the current issues and the community vision."

Council chairman Greg Schoh asked the other council members if, after reviewing the document, anyone could think of a reason why they not release the draft to the public. With no objections, a motion was made and passed by a unanimous vote to do just that.

The public will now have a month and a half to review and comments on the draft, which can be downloaded or read online at the Lakeside Neighborhood Plan Committee's Web site, www.lakesideplan2008.com, or read at the West Shore Library on Bierney Ceek Road. The plan can also be seen at the Flathead County Panning Office in Kalispell, or a copy may be obtained by contacting Hagemeier at Andrew Hagemeier at hagemeier@flathead.mt.gov or calling 751-8200.

Comments on the 154-page plan will be accepted until midnight on June 19.