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Flathead Commissioners Give Final Approval to Zoning Amendments

By Beacon Staff

Flathead County commissioners gave final approval to nine zoning regulation amendments that planning officials said will help clarify the zoning process.

The amendments sought to clarify zoning classifications, define police and fire stations in public zoning, clarify setback definitions, update general cross references and define taverns.

They were written by the Flathead County Planning and Zoning Office and reviewed by the Flathead County Planning Board.

Included in the amendments was a measure adding police and fire stations to a list of uses for land in a public zone. Another amendment sought to provide easier interpretation of a side-corner property setback. The new definition says that buildings on a corner lot, meaning on a lot where two streets intersect, have different setbacks for the front of the lot and the side of the lot.

The commissioners also approved the new definition of a tavern for zoning purposes, which also states that casinos should be considered taverns because they serve much of the same purpose. The planning office said the amendment would ensure proper locations for casinos and would take the character of the area in consideration.

Several other amendments made Flathead County compliant with a new law created during the 2009 legislative session. It requires planning documents up for public scrutiny for 45 days before a public hearing and that those documents have to be available in five different public places. Those places include public buildings, rights of way and in the newspapers.