Notice of County Board of Adjustment meeting, Aug 4, 6pm

The County Board of Adjustment will be holding a public hearing in the Expo Bldg. at the Fairgrounds to decide whether to allow or deny conditional use permits for 3 Camp & Retreat Centers in the North Fork.  One of the commercial operations is on Numa Peak Lane and the other two are in the Home Ranch Bottoms area.  If you would like to comment on these proposed new commercial activities in the North Fork, send an email to Planning.Zoning@flathead.mt.gov and/or attend the meeting on Aug. 4th where public comments will be heard.  For more information on the permit requests see items 4, 5 & 6 on the agenda or email me for additional information at pabdc2@gmail.com.

Related document: Board of Adjustment Meeting agenda, Aug 4, 2020 (PDF format)

Summer 2020 Interlocal notes available

For those of you who were unable to attend (or are lousy note takers), we’ve uploaded a set of notes taken by the inimitable Irv Heitz at the summer 2020 Interlocal meeting. Also included is a report from Dave Ring concerning planned DNRC activities in the North Fork.

Click here to view/download the “2020 Notes from Summer Interlocal Meeting, July 8” document (PDF format).

North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee meets at Sondreson Hall, 7:00pm, July 28

Sondreson Hall by Gerry StearnsThe North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee (NFLUAC) meets at Sondreson Hall at 7:00pm, Tuesday, July 28. The committee will be reviewing three conditional use permit applications  for  “Camp or Retreat Centers” at various locations: Montana Yoga Adventures, LLC at 1070 Numa Peak Lane, North Fork Cabins at 8954 North Fork Road, and Home Ranch at 8950 North Fork Road.

Masks now required at all Sondreson Hall events

I wear the mask to protect the people closest to me - BatmanIn line with the Governor’s “mask directive,” face coverings (masks) are now required at all Sondreson Hall events. See the NFLA Calendar page for the full list of pandemic-related guidelines and restrictions, but here’s the meat of the matter…

Face coverings are required within the hall for all individuals with the following exceptions:

    • Children under the age of five. All children between the ages of two and four, however, are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering. Children under the age of two should not wear a face covering.
    • Persons who have a medical condition precluding the safe wearing of a face covering.
    • Other exceptions as defined in the Governor’s July 15, 2020 Mask Directive.

New Smokey Bear-Fire Danger sign at Camas intersection

Thanks to the Hungry Horse/Glacier View Fire Staff – Andy Huntsberger and Staff – for installing the new Smokey Bear/Fire Danger Sign on the North Fork Road at the Camas Creek Road Junction. We all appreciate the service our wildland fire protecting Agency, the Flathead National Forest, provides. (Note: the tethers on the sign will come off once the concrete cures.)
And thanks to FireSafe Flathead for promoting the idea. The timing is excellent. It won’t take much more hot and dry weather until we are seeing High Fire Danger.
A good reminder to always Be Careful with Fire!
New Smokey Bear-Fire Danger sign at Camas intersection
New Smokey Bear-Fire Danger sign at Camas intersection

Fire danger moves to moderate on Flathead area public lands

From the official interagency press release…

One Less Spark, One Less Wildfire

July 14, 2020, Kalispell, MT – Flathead area fire managers moved the fire danger rating to moderate today as fuels continue to dry out this week into next.

The danger rating is elevated for the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, the DNRC Swan Unit, Stillwater Unit, and Kalispell Unit, and other local state lands. As a whole, Flathead County is also at a moderate fire danger.

Moderate fire danger means that all fine dead fuels like dried grasses ignite readily, and fires start easily. Campfires are likely to escape, and no debris burning is permitted this time because the area has entered fire season. Fires spread rapidly. Moderate intensity burning may develop on slopes or in concentrations of fine fuels. Under moderate fire danger, fires may take more time or resources to suppress.

Residents and visitors alike need to be especially vigilant this fire season and firefighters appreciate the public taking extra care with prevention. Check trailer chains so that they are not dragging and throwing sparks into roadside grasses. Become familiar with the campfire regulations wherever you are camping this summer. Never leave a campfire unattended and always extinguish it before leaving.

For information on how to prepare for wildfire season, contact the Community Preparedness Specialist for the Kalispell Unit of the DNRC at 406-751-2270.

Frozen Moose Project begins second round of public comment; online meeting July 16

Flathead National Forest

The Flathead National Forest, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District, has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the Frozen Moose Project.

Project documents, including the environmental assessment and maps, can be accessed at the project Web site under the “Analysis” tab: www.fs.usda.gov/project/?project=57310.

They will be hosting a virtual public meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2020, from 6:00-7:00 pm. The purpose of the public meeting is to share information with the public about the environmental assessment and to answer questions about the Frozen Moose Project. (See the “Frozen Moose Environmental Assessment Cover Letter” below for details on joining the meeting.)

More information about the project, including how to submit a comment, and connection information for the virtual meeting can be found on the project Website.

Questions or comments about the Frozen Moose Project should be submitted to comments-northern-flathead-hungry-horse-glacier-view@usda.gov.

Associated documents…

Press Release – “North Fork fuels reduction, timber, and restoration project seeks second round of public comment”

Frozen Moose Environmental Assessment Cover Letter

 

NFLUAC to meet at Sondreson Hall July 9, 7pm

The North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee (NFLUAC) is meeting at Sondreson Hall on Thursday, July 9 at 7:00pm.

The NFLUAC was created by the Flathead County Board of Commissioners in July 1987 to serve as liaison between the county commissioners, the County Planning Board, other county offices, and local property owners. The stated purpose of the NFLUAC is to formally provide a process among all landowners and residents of the North Fork area to enhance the resource value of the North Fork River drainage and to allow active participation in shaping and guiding the future of the area.