The Flathead County Planning and Zoning Department will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. July 9 on the county zoning designations for the former “doughnut” around the city of Columbia Falls.

The county hasn’t changed the zoning designations much, save for about 40 acres on the east side of the Flathead River south of U.S. 2. The county is proposing changing it to R-2.5, which allows for housing with a minimum lot size of 2.5 acres (rural residential) or “estate” sized-lots.

Shirley Folkwein, of the Upper Flathead Neighborhood Association said her organization was disappointed in the zoning along the east side of the river south of U.S. 2.

“At first we were encouraged that the board might be considering our desires for our neighborhood, but as meetings and conversation continued over time it became clear the majority of board members were most interested in assigning county zoning designations with the most similarity to the original Columbia Falls zoning,” she said in an email.  “Thus, our hope faded for larger tracts of land to maintain the historical and natural aspect of our neighborhood.”

Still, the previous city zoning for that 40-acre area allowed for higher density housing. At one point, a multi-unit apartment and townhome development was proposed for that area, but ultimately rejected by the Columbia Falls City Council after public outcry and public meetings that went well into the night.

The land north of the U.S. 2 and east of the river would remain SAG-10, as would some lands along River Road south of Steppe Lane. SAG-10 is suburban agricultural, with a 10-acre minimum lot size. It is currently farmland. 

Land west of the river near the Blue Moon would also remain SAG-10 south to Walsh Road.

The county Planning Board and residents had three public workshops in the past year to go over the plan. According to the county planning office’s staff report, however, it received only two public comments.

Through a 20-year-old agreement, Columbia Falls used to have land use planning jurisdiction on lands about 1 to 2 miles (depending on direction) outside city limits, but the Montana Land Use Planning Act did away with extraterritorial jurisdiction by cities across the state.

Columbia Falls could still have a say in future developments outside its boundaries, but the city would have to annex the properties in order to impose its zoning on them.

Developers typically seek annexation if they want city services, like sewer and water, which typically means higher density development.

The doughnut area has a host of other zoning designations as well, including business, industrial, single-family homes (R-1) and higher density development closer to the city limits that would allow for development like apartments.

If the zoning is approved by the Planning Board, it would then go onto the county commissioners for final approval.