Commissioners approve light industrial zone for Evergreen

The Flathead County Commissioners on Dec. 19 unanimously approved a temporary enterprise zoning overlay for the U.S. 2 strip in Evergreen that will allow light-industrial uses.

The Evergreen Chamber of Commerce gave the idea overwhelming support at its Oct. 17 general membership meeting, and the chamber’s board of directors voted unanimously in favor of the plan.

The goal is to boost the Evergreen economy by helping companies set up business in some of the vacant commercial buildings along the U.S. 2 strip. As it stands now, according to the chamber, the 25-year-old B-2 and B-3 zoning in the area is focused too much on retail uses.

The interim zoning is good for one year and can be renewed once for another year. The underlying B-2 and B-3 zoning would stay in place during that time, and county planning staff will inventory vacancies and land uses before, during and after to determine any impacts from the new zoning.

The zone, effective Jan. 1, will extend along U.S. 2 from Rose Crossing to the Kalispell city limits and along Highway 35 from U.S. 2 to Helena Flats Road.

Permitted light-industrial uses will include “light assembly and manufacturing, fabrication and processing, repairing, packing, storage facilities, warehousing and distribution of products and equipment provided that such uses do not produce objectionable impacts beyond the lot lines and do not involve materials that are explosive, hazardous or toxic.”