An assisted-living center planned three miles north of Bigfork won approval from the Flathead County commissioners on Monday, despite lingering concerns from neighboring property owners.

Rising Mountains Assisted Living is planned as a 27,000-square-foot center that will accommodate 28 residents, with an expansion component to boost the number of residents eventually to 36. 

It will be located on property owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena behind Pope John Paul II Catholic Church.

The project will use a planned unit development overlay on 5.25 acres in the northeast corner of the Catholic Church’s property, which otherwise is zoned agricultural.

The project has been in the planning pipeline for nearly a year. In January the commissioners approved a zone change from agricultural 20-acre to suburban agricultural five-acre zoning. The property is located on the north side of Coverdell Road, which will be the access road off Montana 35.

“The community support for this is just remarkable,” said Bill Dale, who along with his wife, Char, are applicants for the project. “We’re looking forward to giving Bigfork residents a place to stay.”

Bigfork currently has no assisted-living options in the immediate area.

The Dales, of Bigfork, have worked in the assisted-living business for many years.

Planner Alex Hogle said the Planning Office received a number of comments from neighbors concerned about the changes to the rural character of the Coverdell Road area.

One of several conditions of approval placed on the project by the Planning Board included “right to farm” language, acknowledging that the project is located in an agricultural area where potential noise, dust, odors and irregular hours of operation are commonplace due to farming operations and shouldn’t be restricted because of the planned unit development.

Sally Proctor, whose driveway will run parallel to the proposed center, said the project will change the rural nature of the area.

“It seems misplaced,” she said. “The zoning has had to be changed ... it opens a Pandora’s box in our neighborhood. There will be a lot more traffic. We didn’t want town to move in on us.”

Proctor further noted that she and her husband, Lee, who also questioned the location during Monday’s public hearing, thought their property would be protected from development when they bought it because it was zoned agricultural.

Lee Proctor said he suggested other locations for such a facility.

Char Dale testified they looked for two years to find a suitable place to build.

Commissioner Dale Lauman acknowledged the area around the junction of Montana 35 and 82 has “become sort of a commercial area” because of the extension of the Bigfork sewer system.

“I understand the neighbors’ concerns and I understand this needs to be some place,” Lauman said. “I see a lot of support [for it] in the Bigfork area.”

Commissioner Cal Scott said that given the recommendation of approval by the Planning Board and the fact the project is allowed under the current zoning, “I see no reason to restrict it.”

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.