zoning – NFLA

Hopefully, one last push…

As you know, due to time restraints the Flathead County Commissioners continued our hearing on the text cleanup for our local zoning guidelines. It is now scheduled for November 29th at 9:00am on the 3rd floor of the old courthouse. We are hoping for a successful resolution, so your continued support remains essential. If you have not contacted the commissioners please take a few minutes to do so. Showing up at the hearing is likewise important. The commissioners contact information: babell@flathead.mt.gov, pholmquist@flathead.mt.gov, rbrodehl@flathead.mt.gov.

We extend our gratitude for your ongoing consideration of this issue so near and dear to us all.

Randy Kenyon
Chair, NFLUAC

One last zoning push; County Commissioner’s hearing Nov 1

A message from the North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee . . .

SUBJECT: ONE LAST ZONING PUSH!

It’s time for North Fork Landowners to get our revised zoning Text Amendment across the finish line with the County Commissioners! The NFLUAC needs your help!

WHY IT MATTERS:

Many of you have previously written extremely helpful letters of support for the Text Amendment. We understand there is “planning fatigue”, but we need you to rally yourselves one last time and submit letters of support! Personalized letters pack the biggest punch, especially if they say WHY this matters to you:

- - Do you have a personal story about how you’ve been, or in the future may be, negatively affected if the zoning is NOT updated?
  - Are you concerned because our zoning is decades out of date and doesn’t meet current growth needs?
  - Are you concerned because our original zoning is sometimes confusing or ambiguous and leads to conflict within the community?

Please send a letter of support to the County Commissioners before the November 1, 2022 hearing, the earlier the better to ensure it is received and read. Their email addresses are: babell@flathead.mt.gov; pholmquist@flathead.mt.gov and rbrodehl@flathead.mt.gov. The physical address is: 800 S. Main, Kalispell MT 59901. If you’re not up to letter writing, you can submit a comment here: cocontactus@flathead.mt.gov. The County Commissioner’s hearing is set for November 1, 2022 at 9:00am, third floor of the courthouse.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

A brief Summary of the Text Amendment, the Text Amendment itself and our letter to the Commissioners are linked below. Italicized portions of the Text Amendment are those which are unchanged from the existing regulations.

Thank you for your support!

NFLUAC

Attachments

North Fork Neighborhood Plan draft zoning text amendment begins review process; meeting on June 2, 6pm

The North Fork Land Use Advisory sub-committee members have completed their monumental efforts and now present the revised North Fork Neighborhood Plan draft zoning text amendment for review. Attached you will find four documents: a summary of the revision process; an overview of the changes made; the draft text amendment; and finally the agenda for a North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee (NFLUAC) meeting on June 2^nd, 6:00pm, at Sondreson Hall. We ask that you carefully review the draft text amendment and attend this meeting with your questions and comments. We are following the county process and hopefully, at the conclusion of the June 2^nd meeting, the committee will vote for submittal to the planning office for a staff report, triggering additional opportunities for comment. If you are unable to participate in this meeting or need further information, or if you know someone who is unaware of the committee’s work and might be interested, please contact me. We hope to hear from you!

Randy Kenyon
Chair, NFLUAC
kenyonnorthfork@gmail.com

North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee meeting, Nov 30

NORTH FORK LAND USE ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE
MEETING AGENDA
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30th, 2021
SONDRESON HALL
4:00 PM

Call to Order

Members Present

The sub committee is providing the North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee with a progress report including the status of the draft text amendment.

Public comments

Accommodations for those with special needs will be honored.

County Planning Board meeting June 9th at 6:00pm

Greetings and a big thank you to those of you who have been kind enough to send in your comments to the planning office! We’re not done yet, so if you haven’t yet sent in a comment there is still time until June 8th. The email address is planning.zoning@flathead.mt.gov or snail mail Flathead County Planning and Zoning Office 1035 1st Avenue Avenue West Kalispell, MT 59901. The Planning Board meeting is scheduled for June 9th at 6:00pm on the second floor at 40 11th Street West (this is located at the south end of the skywalk between the two new county buildings). If you could attend that would be greatly appreciated! Furthermore, if you would like to attend via Zoom here are the details:

Continue reading County Planning Board meeting June 9th at 6:00pm

North Fork Zoning Hearing Notice – Tues, Oct 6, 6:00pm, Country Kitchen Building at the Fairgrounds

A public hearing before the County Board of Adjustment is scheduled regarding an Appeal filed by the North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee to a written Zoning Determination from the County Planning & Zoning Office (“CP&Z”) regarding rental cabins, guest cabins and a yoga studio on property located at 1070 Numa Peak Lane. This Zoning Determination was made by the CP&Z in a letter to the owner of Montana Yoga Adventure subsequent to the August 4 Board of Adjustment hearing. The Appeal, filed by the North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee, disputes the CP&Z’s interpretation of two items contained in the North Fork Zoning Regulations. These items relate to “rental” cabin density (not guest cabins) which our zoning allows at one rental cabin “per each five acres of contiguous property owned”. The County Planning & Zoning has interpreted our zoning differently, by allowing one rental cabin per every parcel of land owned. In effect, according to them, our zoning provides that two separate parcels of record of contiguous property, each less than five acres, would be allowed a rental cabin on each parcel. In addition, the County is considering a canvas wall tent as a structure and building (although a tent does not conform to the Flathead County Zoning’s definition of either a structure or building) and as such, could be considered a rental cabin. We encourage all North Fork landowners to attend this public hearing on October 6 to voice their concern that our North Fork Zoning Regulations are being misinterpreted and not as intended. Save the date!

Results of the August 4 Flathead County Board of Adjustment meeting

Here is a brief summary of the results of the August 4 Flathead County Board of Adjustment meeting . . .

During the Flathead County Board of Adjustment hearing on August 4, 2020, there were three requests for Conditional Use Permits to operate a “Camp and Retreat Center” on various North Fork properties. Besides the applicants, about 40 North Forkers attended the meeting. Several of them expressed opposition to each of the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) requests during public comment. The objections to the Montana Yoga Adventure application were especially numerous, detailed and vigorous.

The Conditional Use Permit (CUP) request from North Fork Cabins, LLC for the acreage in the Home Ranch area containing the rental cabins was denied.

The CUP request from Northern Lights Land, LLC for the Home Ranch Store property was tabled until next month so that the applicant could supply more information. Unless something changes drastically, approval is unlikely.

The CUP request from Montana Yoga Adventure, LLC for their property on Numa Peak Lane was denied.

UPDATE: County Board of Adjustment meeting, Aug 4, 6pm at Trade Center Bldg!

The County Board of Adjustment will be holding a public hearing in the Trade Center Bldg. (not the usual 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. 4^th where public comments will be heard.

Regardless of whether you submit comments or not, it is very important for as many people as possible to attend the Board of Adjustment hearing!

For more information on the permit requests see items 4, 5 & 6 on the agenda or you can email Pat Cole for additional information at pabdc2@gmail.com.

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

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. 4^th 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)