Despite overwhelming opposition from a standing room only crowd, Flathead County commissioners Tuesday approved extending a marina dock in Lakeside nearly 59 feet beyond the permitted length.  

The marina is owned by Discovery Land Company, an Arizona-based firm developing the 1,700-acre members-only resort known as the Flathead Lake Club west of U.S. 93 near Blacktail Mountain. Developers plan to use the 17-slip commercial dock located at 688 Lakeside Blvd. for its club members, while leasing available slips to the public.  

A minor variance request submitted on Dec. 11 sought to extend the dock to 159 feet, beyond the 100-foot maximum length set by county lakeshore regulations. The developers argued that the water was too shallow for safe boat mooring under the capped length, even at full pool, and the issue could not be remedied with alternative designs.  

Proposed alternatives still had boats in water too shallow for safe moorage, created unsafe exposure to wind and waves or limited boaters' ability to maneuver in and out of the dock.   

Extending the dock an extra 59 feet was the only viable solution, the developers said.  

LAKESIDE RESIDENTS panned the request, with some worrying about the precedent it would set. 

“We feel that by granting this you further set forth a policy, or seeming policy, that a variance is something that can be granted, pretty much as a matter of routine,” said Lakeside resident Chris Swanberg.  

He described the shoreline as increasingly crowded during the summer months and worried about the dock extension's suitability. Others pointed out that approval could open the floodgates for future requests.  

“I believe in private property rights, but giving somebody the opportunity to extend their dock 59 feet is just beyond the pale,” said Lakeside resident Rick Weaver, who retired as publisher of the Daily Inter Lake in 2023. “If you do it, I'll be the next one standing in line to extend our dock 59 feet. So where does it end?” 

Commissioner Randy Brodehl said that the county has approved other requests to extend docks beyond the 100-foot limit in recent years. Asked for examples after the meeting, planning staff pointed to the commissioners’ June 2024 approval of a request to extend a floating ‘L’ shaped dock on Bitterroot Lake to 116 feet. 

RESIDENTS ALSO argued that the marina should be classified as private, instead of public or commercial, since it would primarily benefit members of Flathead Lake Club. Docks in private marinas are limited to 60 feet in length, but are allowed to extend up to 100 feet if the water depth at the end is less than five feet.  

But planning staff determined the marina qualified as a commercial dock, since developers anticipate leasing slips to the public. They also noted the marina was permitted as public under its previous owners, before it was sold to Discovery Land Company.  

There were additional arguments that the extension of 59 feet warranted a major variance request, instead of a minor one. The application process for a major variance request requires an environmental impact statement and public hearing. 

A variance request is considered major if it substantially deviates from construction requirements or design standards in county regulations, or if it creates a major environmental impact. County commissioners ultimately decide which variance request is appropriate. 

“A minor variance at 159 feet — that's insane,” said Bruce Young. “I'm offering you some wisdom here, to tell you to look at the developers and say no. Time to start over, restart the process, and have a real public process where you have input from the people who live in the community.” 

County commissioners, though, unanimously approved the extension.  

Before the vote, Brodehl asked planning board staff if any part of the application violated county ordinance or state law. Planning and Zoning Department Director Erik Mack confirmed the application was legally sound, prompting the commissioners’ approval.  

“I know that there's been a lot of emotion around this subdivision, around this [marina] permit, around this variance that we're looking at today,” Brodehl said. “We're not allowed to make decisions based on emotion.” 

Reporter Hannah Shields can be reached at 758-4439 or [email protected].