The Flathead County Board of Adjustment unanimously denied an appeal May 5 brought by a group of West Glacier residents over the labeling of a work camp near their homes as a minor land use.  

Seven Glacier Avenue property owners filed the appeal with the county on March 25, challenging Planning Director Erik Mack’s label of a proposed work camp as a minor land use. Located west of Glacier Drive at 100 R.E.A. Road, the work camp will house 137 employees in three dormitories, 11 cabins and 19 RV spaces. 

The property owners argued that a complex of this magnitude warranted higher scrutiny as a major land use, since there is no public hearing in the review process for minor land use applications.  

They highlighted concerns of traffic congestion on River Road Bend, strained public services, and impacts on privacy, wildlife mitigation and the overall character of the historic neighborhood. 

“This workforce housing will have a major, not minor, impact on the history and character of our quaint rural community,” said West Glacier resident Margot Nye Peters.  

Work camps are listed as a minor land use under the Canyon Area Land Use Regulatory System, and Mack said he is bound by what’s defined in zoning policy. There’s nothing in the definition of “work camp” to depict when a certain number of employees warrant major land use review, he said. There are also no guidelines on work camps in Flathead County Zoning Regulation. 

“I’m not stretching any definition,” Mack said. “I’m not stretching any regulations.” 

Discussion around the appeal, however, stirred speculation among board members about the adequacy of current zoning regulations.  

“I understand the rules and what we’re following,” said board member Daniel Margenau. “But I don’t think what we’re approving is wholly adequate.” 

The board agreed with disgruntled property owners that zoning regulations around work camps are inadequate.  

Board member Roger Noble said he was troubled by the fact that a 137-employee work camp passed as a minor land use without any input from the public.  

Chair Calvin Dyck echoed the sentiment, but added that the county is bound by its own policies.  

“We cannot be a judicial board,” Dyck said. “If we change policy here, then the county is wide open for lawsuit.”