Planning Commission OKs zone change for Columbia Falls' trailer park
CHRIS PETERSON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 months, 4 weeks AGO
Chris Peterson is the editor of the Hungry Horse News. He covers Columbia Falls, the Canyon, Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness. All told, about 4 million acres of the best parts of the planet. He can be reached at [email protected] or 406-892-2151. | June 25, 2025 12:00 AM
The Columbia Falls Planning Commission recently approved a zone change for the Lazy Day Trailer Court at 2155 Ninth St. W.
The zone change concerned the north half of the property, switching it from light industrial to general business.
The south half of the property is already zoned general business.
No one spoke for or against the zone change, though the Montana Department of Transportation said it would likely require main access to U.S. 2 be from Meadow Lake Boulevard when it’s developed.
The commission’s only concern regarded making a zone change for a parcel where they didn’t know what was going to be built there. The city’s planning policy discourages split zoning on any parcels.
The north half of the parcel, about 2.2 acres, is already sold as a hospitality venture, according to Sterling CRE Advisors, the real estate firm selling the property.
Local residents believe it will become a hotel and liquor store. A CRE representative did not return a call seeking comment.
Another 0.6 acres is also sold, but three other 0.6 acre parcels remain, according to a brochure advertising the property.
The residents of the trailer court received eviction notices in April.
Since then, several of the trailers have been listed for sale or relocated as people make arrangements to leave.
The property owners have offered cash incentives for people to leave before the Oct. 18 deadline.
If trailer owners move or sign over their trailer's title to the park owners by July 18, they will receive a $10,000 payment. If they do the same by Sept. 18, they’ll receive $5,000.
If they wait until the Oct. 18 deadline, they will get nothing. The October date is a few days after the six-month notice required by state law.
The property, according to Flathead County tax records, is owned by 2155 Columbia Falls LLC, which is owned by Freehouse Capital Partners, whose principal is Zach Ware of Whitefish.
It’s a prime parcel from a commercial real estate perspective, with high traffic volumes. Thousands of travelers going to and from Glacier National Park stream by each day in the summer months.
The Columbia Falls City Council will take up the zone change request at its July 7 meeting, with a public hearing to be held as well.
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