plants take step forward

The Flathead County commissioners approved a resolution of intent on Tuesday that would make sewage treatment plants a conditional use in the P-1 public zoning districts.

The move kicks off a 30-day protest period. Final action on this matter will be taken after the protest period ends.

The zoning text amendment was proposed earlier this year, specifically to accommodate the Evergreen sewer district, which wants to build its own treatment plant.

Last year, the commissioners agreed to give the district 10 acres of county property for the facility. They recently bumped that up to 20 acres.

The property would be located on the south side of Kalispell, near the Flathead Vo-Ag school and Stillwater Christian School and the Stillwater River.

During a public comment period on Tuesday, more than a dozen speakers including current and former vo-ag students urged the commissioners to consider other locations for a treatment plant.

My dad and brother and I all went through the vo-ag program, and I taught there for four years, said Marcus Braaten. The quality of the students turned out there is second to none. I feel that any steps [that would encourage a sewage plant to be located near the school] will jeopardize the integrity of that program.

Janet Holter questioned why the commissioners would approve this text amendment, when the area along FFA Drive is almost the only place in the county thats zoned P-1.

There are two schools and 600 kids there, she said. It concerns me that you would change the zoning specifically so a sewer treatment plant could come into that area.

Commissioner Joe Brenneman voted against Tuesdays resolution, saying the findings of fact used to support the decision were fatally flawed.

For example, the findings suggest that P-1 land is somehow innately better suited for sewage treatment plants than any other land, he said. But in most cases, [public] city or county lands are close in, near the urban areas. So it seems to me that P-1 is almost less likely to be suited for this type of use.

Commissioner Gary Hall, however, noted the text amendment makes treatment plants a conditional use in the P-1 zone. Consequently, additional public hearings would be required before any specific project was able to locate on any particular site.

He also suggested future improvements in treatment plant technology would alleviate concerns about odors or water quality particularly because it will likely be several years before Evergreen could build its own plant.

Commissioner Bob Watne offered no comment on the matter, other than to move approval of the resolution. Commissioner Hall seconded the motion, which passed on a 2-1 vote.