A local nonprofit group has filed a lawsuit against Flathead County Commissioners over a subdivision that could eventually add more than 800 new homes to the Lakeside community.
Flathead Lake Protection Association filed the lawsuit in District Court Thursday afternoon, exactly one month after the commissioners voted 2-1 to pass phases 5 through 9 of the Eagle’s Crest Subdivision. The group claims commissioners violated subdivision regulations, master plan guidelines, environmental protections and the public’s right to participate when they approved the proposal.
“They’ve agreed to put a city the size of Polson on steep slopes and the worst soils on earth,” Bruce Young, a Lakeside resident and member of the FLPA, said. “The impact on the community, traffic, wildlife, the lake; it’ll all be huge.”
The 739-lot, 1,354-acre subdivision first came before commissioners in June, when, citing a lack of information, the commissioners referred the proposal back to the Flathead County Planning Board for further review. In September, the planning board voted 5-4 to recommend approval with the addition of two major conditions about access roads and guest homes. Commissioners later removed those conditions before they approved the subdivision.
Commissioners Gary Hall and Dale Lauman voted to approve the subdivision while Joe Brenneman voted no.