The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee last week continued its review and update to the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan, going through the document section by section.  

The document is a guide for planning and zoning decisions in the Bigfork area, which has seen many changes since the plan was last updated in 2009. The committee began updating it last year, along with other area advisory groups, according to BLUAC Board Chair Susan Johnson. 

Johnson said the group has a clear focus while going through the document, including preventing future traffic issues and ensuring the growth plan aligns with the capacity for services — such as water, sewer and emergency services like fire and ambulance. 

The Bigfork Neighborhood Plan is referenced by Flathead County Planning and Zoning office staff when considering applications for the Bigfork area, like zone change requests and subdivision approvals. 

Traffic continues to be an issue surrounding new developments in Bigfork, according to committee members like Laura Perry.   

“People get really involved when they are starting to have issues pulling in and out of the grocery store,” Perry said. “... And making sure we’re planning for service capacity — these things either make this a beautiful place to live or make it difficult and uncomfortable.”  

Commitee member Chany Ockert said when the plan was last updated in 2009, the trendline that estimated future population growth was accurate for 2025. According to the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan, the estimated population for 2025 was 6,400 people. Previous committee members estimated the increase of 2,045 people between 2005 and 2025, a growth rate of 47%.  

2020 data from the U.S. Census shows Bigfork’s population at 5,118.  

“We’ve projected out to 2025, now it’s time to project further,” Ockert said.  

At the committee’s July 31 meeting, Ockert tackled minor changes to the Local and Social Services section of the plan. She suggested making some sections less detailed, particularly when regarding area nonprofits and the library. The information describing the nonprofits was outdated, and she didn’t believe there needed to be such specific information about the library. The 2009 plan goes into great detail describing monthly and annual circulation rates, as well as the kinds of materials the library offered.  

She also suggested adding a section detailing land trusts and open space.  

The plan is first reviewed and updated by the committee members, with each section later reviewed with designated staff at the planning and zoning department. Then a meeting is scheduled to review the updates with the planning board, according to Johnson. 

She said there will be opportunities for public comment at the planning board meetings, along with multiple chances for public comment during BLUAC meetings during the on-going process of updating the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan. 

In other BLUAC news, Dan Cotman was voted in as the newest member of the committee. Cotman is an attorney in intellectual property law, who said he cares about the community and joined the board to give his input.  

Taylor Inman may be reached at 758-4440 or [email protected].