A revised site plan that relocates Intermountain’s planned therapeutic youth group home farther away from a waterfowl preserve near Somers got a favorable nod from the Flathead County commissioners on Tuesday.

The commissioners unanimously approved a “finding of no significant impact” that is needed to push forward the release of a $450,000 federal grant for the project.

In January the commissioners declined to ask the state Department of Commerce to release the federal Community Development Block Grant money after questions were raised about the environmental assessment for the project.

Those concerns prompted Intermountain and Flathead County, the local government applying for the block grant, to revise the environmental assessment to include additional analysis and research, Intermountain staff member Adam Jespersen told the commissioners Tuesday.

The building envelope for Providence Home, a $1.64 million, 5,500-square-foot facility, will be moved farther north and east on the property, making it 325 feet from the Blasdel Waterfowl Protection Area instead of 150 feet from the border with Blasdel.

“There was no statute requiring a certain setback from the waterfowl protection area, and, in fact, multiple homes that also border the Blasdel [area] are sited significantly closer to the waterfowl protection area than was the proposed Providence location,” Jespersen pointed out.

Intermountain is following Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks’ recommendation of a minimum setback of 300 feet to mitigate any potential impacts of the home to recreationists using the waterfowl area, he said.

Revisions also were made to the environmental assessment, including further analysis of impacts to groundwater and surface water and further details outlining the home’s stormwater management plan. Detailed specifications of both the home’s permitted septic system and water well also will be included in the revised assessment.

“We are also eager to reiterate that Intermountain has no intention of developing its property to the point that it has a deleterious impact on either the physical environment or the rural, communal feel of the surrounding neighborhood,” Jespersen said. “The footprint and impact of this project is essentially little more than that of a large, single-family home.”

 The commissioners’ authorization of a finding of no significant impact triggers another public comment period that runs from May 19 through June 9. Barring any significant opposition to the revised environmental assessment, the county is poised to ask the state to release the grant money by June 16, with a potential release in early July.

Commissioner Pam Holmquist said she visited Intermountain’s Helena facility and was inspired by the organization’s mission.

“I think it will be a great project for Flathead County,” she said. “I support what’s going on out there.”

Commissioner Cal Scott agreed, noting Providence Home “is an excellent example of community enterprise to serve dire needs in the county.”

Intermountain purchased the 76-acre tract nearly 10 years ago and has been working with the county on the grant process since 2011, Intermountain board member Pam Schapper said.

“Although a number of years have passed since we first set out to make Providence Home a reality, sadly, the need for the facility has not changed,” Schapper said.

Providence Home will serve up to eight children in need of intensive therapeutic care and support.

The environmental assessment can be viewed on the county’s website at https://flathead.mt.gov/commissioner/intermtnea.php.

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