The Flathead County commissioners on Wednesday authorized the planning staff to proceed with the paperwork needed to establish an enterprise zone in Evergreen to spur economic development.

The Evergreen Chamber of Commerce recently asked for a publicly initiated zone change to create an interim enterprise overlay zone in Evergreen. The change would allow a variety of light industrial uses in addition to the commercial business zones along the U.S. 2 and Montana 35 corridors.

It’s an effort to recruit a broader range of businesses to fill commercial properties left vacant by a surge of growth along U.S. 93.

The enterprise zone would allow light assembly and manufacturing, fabrication and processing, storage facilities, warehousing and distribution of products and equipment provided those uses don’t have objectionable impacts beyond the lot lines and don’t involve hazardous or explosive materials.

If approved, the enterprise zone would be in place for two years as interim zoning. Vacancies and land uses would be inventoried before, during and after to measure the impact, and if the new zoning has no effect or negatively impacts the community, it would expire.

The zone would run along both sides of U.S. 2 from the Kalispell city limits north to Rose Crossing and along Montana 35 to the intersection with Helena Flats Road.

Public hearings before the county Planning Board and commissioners will be held before the proposed zoning is considered for adoption.

Commissioner Gary Krueger thanked the Evergreen community for initiating the zoning proposal.

“I think the economic development for Evergreen can be tremendous,” he said.

Commissioner Pam Holmquist, an Evergreen resident, said she also favors the zoning proposal and hopes it can create commercial growth.

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