A Lakeside neighborhood is one step closer to protection from unwanted development after the Flathead County Planning and Zoning Board on Oct. 14 voted unanimously to recommend approval of a proposed new zoning district.  

While there was some quibbling over the details of the proposal as residents expressed concerns about how the new zoning district would impact their properties during the public comment period, the Planning Board concluded that there is a consensus among property owners to protect the residential character of the neighborhood.  

“There are a lot of mixed feelings going on. Like, we want something, but we just don't know if it's this,” board member Marie Hickey AuClaire said.  “I know nothing's perfect, but I feel like overall, you guys all want to protect that area. Maybe it's just not the right fit for every single thing. But I know that there are mechanisms in place that you can always change. We see zoning changes constantly here.” 

The proposed district, known as Lakeside Boulevard South Zoning District, would incorporate properties along Lakeside Boulevard, Overlook Terrace and Political Hill Road south of downtown Lakeside. The proposed district encompasses approximately 82 acres and 40 ownership parties, according to the staff report.  

The zoning district would be designated for a mix of One Family Limited Residential (R2) zones and Low Density Resort Residential (RR2). Under such designations, multi-family units or tourist accommodations with more than five units would be required to obtain conditional approval and go through a public comment process. It would also set a maximum height of 35 feet for buildings. 

“Under what's in place now, nothing would stop a large-scale commercial entity, resort, or high-density project from going in next to established homes,” Dustin Richter, one of the applicants, said during the application presentation. “Our goal is simple: put a predictable residential framework on a neighborhood that is already built out, so future development fits what's here.” 

Many neighbors spoke about the quiet, peaceful atmosphere of Lakeside Boulevard, which meanders along Flathead Lake, and their desire to protect it from development. As they described it, this is an area where cabins have been handed down through generations since the early 1900s, where they grew up playing as children, and where they hope their grandchildren will be granted the same idyllic Montana childhood. 

The Lakeside Neighborhood Plan, written in 2008, designated this area for residential use only, but no steps have been taken since then to protect the area, so a handful of residents took it upon themselves to initiate the zoning application process. With rapid development occurring elsewhere in Lakeside, a new zoning district is one of the few tools available to control growth in the unincorporated community. 

“We want to preserve this for future generations,” Sandy Jones, a Lakeside Boulevard resident told the board. "You're the folks that help us make that happen. If you approve zoning down there, that will give us a lot of control over the situation. We've already felt pressure. Certainly, we've seen the pressure from north of us, with people being encouraged to sell out. I know of two instances down just south of us where people have already been encouraged to sell their property for future development.” 

Other residents expressed the same desire to preserve the neighborhood but were concerned about how the new zoning district will impact their own properties. Along the lakeshore, there are several lots that would be considered nonconforming under the R2 designation because they do not meet the minimum width requirement, and property owners were fearful this would prevent them from making additions to small family cabins.  

But a staff member from the Planning and Zoning Department confirmed that those nonconforming properties would be grandfathered into the zoning district, and additions such as garages would be permitted. 

Another concern centered on short-term rentals. Under R2 zoning, property owners would be required to obtain an administrative conditional use permit to operate a short-term rental, which many property owners said they are considering as a way to offset increasing property taxes. In most circumstances, the planning department staff member clarified, these permits are reviewed internally and do not require a public hearing. 

Throughout the evening, some property owners argued that the proposed zoning district allows too much density, while others said it does not allow for enough density. With 44 owners, the board acknowledged, a zoning proposal becomes something of a balancing act that is never going to please everyone, but pointed out that adjustments can be made in the future.  

Board Chair Jeff Larsen raised some concerns about water and sewer access, but ultimately supported the proposal, taking his cues from the Lakeside Community Council, which voted unanimously to recommend approval of the district.  

“The other thing that I hate is going against that. I like those little community boards. You know, they have a local meeting, and they listen to local residents,” Larsen said. “They're the closest to the community, and they were in favor of it, so that that's another thing that I try to consider... I like to defer to that community council too when it's a close call.” 

Residents of the proposed zoning district have spent three years and more than $11,000 crafting the application, according to David Fetveit, a Lakeside Boulevard property owner and applicant. He sees the effort as well worth it to preserve the quiet neighborhood, but the process has been far from simple, balancing perspectives and opinions. 

Now, with a unanimous recommendation from the planning board, the application moves to the county commissioners, who will make the final decision. The date for that hearing has not yet been set.  

Reporter Elsa Ericksen can be reached at 406-758-4459 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.