A public hearing on the draft of the updated Flathead County growth policy has been scheduled for Feb. 15 before the county Planning Board.

The Planning Board and employees of the county planning office spent most of 2011 revising the growth policy. Now that the draft update is finished, the board wants to hear comments from the public, county Planning Director BJ Grieve said.

People can read the updated policy at http://flathead.mt.gov/planning_zoning/GrowthPolicyUpdate-CurrentWorkingDrafts.php.

After the Feb. 15 public hearing, which is part of the board’s 6 p.m. meeting in the second-floor meeting room in the Earl Bennett Building, more board workshops and one more public hearing are planned, Grieve said.

Once approved by the Planning Board, the policy will be presented to the county commissioners, who must approve it before it takes effect.

Besides commenting in person at the Feb. 15 hearing, people may submit written comments to the planning office at 1035 First Ave. W. in Kalispell or by email to [email protected].

Grieve also told county commissioners last week that his office “has hit the halt button” on the interim zone classification plan for the two-mile area surrounding Whitefish.

Depending on the resolution of lawsuits filed against the county and the city of Whitefish in regard to jurisdiction in that area, the county planning staff is “prepared to pick back up when necessary” on interim zoning, he said.

Reporter Shelley Ridenour may be reached at 758-4439 or [email protected].