Sunday, January 19, 2025
16.0°F

Gravel-pit measure bites dust

WILLIAM L. SPENCE The Daily Inter Lake | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 17 years, 9 months AGO
by WILLIAM L. SPENCE The Daily Inter Lake
| March 27, 2007 1:00 AM

A bill that would have made it harder to prohibit new gravel pits probably died last week in a Montana Legislature committee.

House Bill 557 would have kept local governments from prohibiting new gravel operations anywhere except on property that was located in a residential zoning district and that was taxed as Class 4 residential property.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Ralph Heinert, R-Libby.

It was prompted by complaints from agricultural landowners and gravel-pit operators in Flathead County who say county commissioners here misused state statutes to limit mine operations in the West Valley.

After narrowly advancing through the Montana House in February, HB 557 was tabled Friday by the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee.

Gail Abercrombie, a representative of the Montana Contractors Association, said the vote followed party lines, with the committee's five Democrats supporting the decision to table and four Republicans opposing it.

Two last-minute amendments also were defeated, she said. One would have allowed local governments to prohibit gravel pits in residential zoning districts on lots less than 20 acres; the second proposed a 40-acre lot size standard.

It's possible the bill could be revived before the end of the 2007 session. However, that would require a vote to reconsider by the Natural Resources Committee or a majority vote of the full Senate.

Given the Democratic majority in that chamber, Abercrombie said she didn't see much likelihood of that happening.

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

MORE IMPORTED STORIES

Changes planned in gravel-pit laws
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 17 years, 11 months ago
Several land-use, gravel bills still alive
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 17 years, 10 months ago
Gravel pit bill continues to advance
Daily Inter-Lake | Updated 19 years, 11 months ago

ARTICLES BY WILLIAM L. SPENCE THE DAILY INTER LAKE

April 6, 2007 1 a.m.

Smooth sailing?

Fewer delays from highway construction possible this summer

March 2, 2007 midnight

Big Mountain investor buys eateries

MacKenzie River Pizza, Mambo Italiano among restaurants acquired by Bill Foley's new company

March 9, 2007 midnight

Board questions readiness of draft

There weren't many people at the Flathead County Planning Board workshop Wednesday about the draft subdivision regulations, but plenty of suggestions were made about how to improve the document.