Flathead County settled a lawsuit with the developers of the contentious North Shore Ranch Subdivision last week.
According to Flathead County Commissioner Joe Brenneman, the arrangement includes the county paying the developers $500,000 this year and $250,000 a year for the next two years. The settlement comes after almost two years of disputes over the proposed subdivision that would have created about 290 residential lots on 367 acres near Somers on Highway 82.
According to Brenneman, the subdivision developers agreed to reduce the number of housing lots, open acreage for public use and create a buffer between the development and nearby wildlife habitat.
Chief Deputy County Attorney Jonathan Smith confirmed that a settlement had been made, but would not go into the details until the official document is released. It should be available by Feb. 16, Smith said.
Court records show that the settlement is contingent upon final approval from the county commissioners after a public hearing. A judge also needs to accept the terms. The public hearing is tentatively scheduled for March 1, Brenneman said.
Commissioners Gary Hall and Brenneman voted to reject the development in April 2008 due to worries of the subdivision’s affect on wildlife and potential flood issues. Commissioner Dale Lauman voted to approve the subdivision.
The subdivision’s developers, Sean Averill and Keith Simon, sued the county after the commission rejected their plan. They could not be reached for comment on the settlement.