The Daily Inter Lake

The Flathead County commissioners used a shotgun approach Tuesday to evaluate the draft growth policy, highlighting various goals and policies and asking why they were changed.

More than 100 people attended the meeting, though they had to wait a few hours before having their say.

This was the commissioners' first look at the document since it was forwarded to them with a favorable recommendation from the Flathead County Planning Board.

The meeting began with a brief presentation from the county planning staff, which noted that this was the 86th public hearing, workshop or open house since work on the new policy started in 2002.

The commissioners then spent two hours reviewing the document chapter by chapter. They offered few comments, instead using most of the time to question Planning Board members as to why certain goals or policies were eliminated or reworded.

"The purpose of tonight's meeting is to give the commissioners a chance to understand why these changes were made and to clarify any questions we have," said Commissioner Joe Brenneman.

It's unclear how much enlightenment they received, though.

The Planning Board spent three months reviewing and modifying the initial draft policy. However, members didn't keep detailed notes, so they had difficulty recalling exactly why certain changes were made.

When the public comment period opened at 8:10 p.m., people quickly lined up to have their say.

Several people remarked on changes that were made to the neighborhood plan section, which added language requiring 60 percent of landowners to demonstrate support for a proposed plan before it could proceed through public review.

"It's obvious that a number of Planning Board members aren't in favor of neighborhood plans," said Pat Arnome, who is working to create a new plan on the east side of the Flathead River. "I think they revised [the growth policy] and tried to put in so many restrictions that there will never be another new plan.

"If you move forward with this, then I ask that the same restrictions be placed on developers: Make sure they have a petition signed by 60 percent of their neighbors before they can move forward with a project."

Dick Skees, on the other hand, said he was thrilled with the changes the Planning Board made.

"It's frustrating that people can live on their property for 25 or 30 years, and then a small group of people come in and try to regulate a massive area," he said. "People need to be notified if their property is going to be regulated. This [60 percent requirement] means they have to contact their neighbors. Then you won't have a small group come in and try to railroad something through."

The commissioners tentatively are scheduled to announce their own revisions to the growth policy Jan. 18, and to consider a resolution of intent Jan. 22.

In light of the obvious public interest, though, that schedule may change.

"I don't want to make too many changes [to the revised draft]," said Commissioner Gary Hall. "I know the Planning Board put a lot of work into this, and it's probably the most diverse board we have."

The commissioners said they will accept written comments about the revised draft until 5 p.m. Thursday.

Comments can be mailed to the Flathead County Planning Office, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell MT 59901, or e-mailed via the link at www.co.flathead.mt.us/fcpz/index.html

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com