Northshore Woods development back before commissioners

The Northshore Woods housing development is back on the Flathead County Commissioner’s agenda tomorrow following a settlement agreement that allowed the company to resubmit their plans.  

The Northshore Woods project was first proposed in 2023 and met by outrage from the public in its initial Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee presentation. The plan called for 125 single-family homes on 105 acres between Highway 35 and Bigfork Stage Road.  County Commissioners denied the preliminary plat of Phase I of the project, which would have allowed 51 homes to be built.  

Development company Longbow Land Partners of Jackson, Wyoming then filed a lawsuit against the county, alleging that the application meets the requirements of the Montana Subdivision and Platting Act and zoning and was illegally denied. Settlement of that suit allowed the company to resubmit their plan for the 51-house project.  

New plans propose a 51-lot residential subdivision on 43 acres of the plot, with 62 acres of unreviewed land that cannot be developed, divided, or subdivided without further review. Access is currently from Peaceful Drive, and the project proposes additional access from Bigfork Stage.  

Development neighbor Jim Abney, a sounding voice during the initial proposal, still stands in firm opposition of the project.  

“Traffic safety is a huge concern turning onto and off of Highway 35 at Peaceful Drive,” Abney said. “Nothing in this new proposal has changed to address that issue. The 51 homes are far too many and will open the door back up to 160-plus homes that Longbow tried to push through last year in the request for rezoning.” 

Developers have stated the project would provide much-needed housing for the Flathead.  

Commissioners will hold a public hearing for the Northshore Woods development preliminary plat at 9:15 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 19 in Flathead County Courthouse.