Bigfork zone change approved

The Flathead County commissioners on Monday gave final approval to a zone change that will allow commercial and residential development of about 68 acres with highway frontage near Bigfork.

The commissioners in February gave an initial favorable nod, approving a resolution of intent to adopt the zone change.

Robert Carette of Icecap LLC, who owns Marina Cay Resort in Bigfork, is buying the property at 7645 Montana 35 from a group of property owners that includes Joseph Eslick, Joann Eslick, Jay Eslick, Sean Meuller and Marla Britton.

Carette plans to build a hotel and upscale recreational vehicle park on a 10-acre section of the property where the commissioners OK’d a zone change from SAG-10, suburban agricultural with a 10-acre minimum lot size, to general business zoning.

The rest of the property was rezoned from SAG-10 to one-family limited residential zoning. While the residential zoning allows for up to 122 lots on the 57.7-acre tract, Carette told the commissioners he intends to build somewhere between 50 and 70 homes.