Page 14 - Flathead Beacon // 7.15.15

NEWS
CITY BEAT
WHITEFISH
Condo Project to Add 66 Units at Monterra
The next phase of condominium devel- opment is in the works at the Monterra in Whitefish.
At a July 16 public meeting, the White- fish Planning Board will consider the request by Whitefish Partners for a con- ditional use permit to build 54 units as part of Phase II of the project south of the current Monterra housing develop- ment, and an additional 12 units to build out Phase I.
The Monterra development is located at the northeast corner of Montana 40 and River Lakes Parkway.
The project is part of Riverside at Whitefish, a 230-acre development plan that was conceived as a neighborhood plan and included in the Whitefish City- County Master Plan in 1993.
The project languished until 1999, when an amendment to the plan des- ignated specific project proposals that included the youth sports complex, assisted living and park area, traditional homesites along the Whitefish River, some “neo-traditional housing,” and an economic development area, according to the Whitefish Planning Office’s staff report.
Phase 1 of Monterra was approved
FLATHEAD
Restore the Shore Rendezvous Planned for July 18
A local conservation group is plan- ning an on-the-water fundraiser at the north shore of Flathead Lake in an effort to defray legal costs as it challenges the construction of a private bridge to Dock- stader Island.
Organizers of the event, titled “Restore the Shore Rendezvous,” welcome all watercraft to celebrate public access to Flathead Lake.
The Community Association for North Shore Conservation (CANSC) is challenging Flathead County in district court, claiming the county inappropri- ately issued a permit for the construc- tion of a driveway bridge to Dockstader Island, located off the north shore of the lake between Bigfork and the Flathead River.
The event will give the public a chance to demonstrate their support for remov- ing the partially constructed bridge, said Dave Hadden, the group’s chair, adding that he hoped the event would draw peo- ple and attention.
“Folks should know that we will pre- vail in court and that the bridge will even- tually be removed,” he said. “This Ren- dezvous is the public’s chance to enjoy the lake and rally to her defense. So please
for 160 dwelling units in 16 buildings in 2004. There was also an amendment to the planned-unit development to allow multifamily condos where the economic development area initially was planned, according to the report.
Ultimately there were a total of 230 multi-family condominium units approved for both phases of development at Monterra.
The Whitefish Planning Board will forward its recommendation to the Whitefish City Council for a public hear- ing and final action on Aug. 3.
LIBBY, EUREKA, TROY, REXFORD
Municipal Elections Take Shape in
Voters in Lincoln County will have a full slate of candidates to select from this fall during the local municipal elections. The deadline for candidates to file was earlier this month, and last week those election officials released the names of who will be on the ballot. Here’s who is running for office in Libby, Troy, Eureka and Rexford.
Libby City Council – Three positions open for four-year terms:
Gary Beach, Joseph E. Johnston, Arlen Magill, Joe A. Miller, Allen Olsen, DC Orr, Doug Roll, Peggy Williams, Brian Zimmerman.
Libby City Council – One position open for unexpired four-year term:
take a break, head out on the lake and join your friends and neighbors for this important event.”
The event is Saturday, July 18, from 4-7p.m. For more information, visit www.CANSCflathead.org or call (406) 837-0783
FLATHEAD
County to Consider Maintaining
Doughnut Zoning District
The Flathead County Commission will consider whether the county should extend the rural Whitefish Interim Zon- ing District put in place after the county took jurisdictional control of the area, commonly referred to as the doughnut, last year.
Last August, the state Supreme Court sided with Flathead County in a years- long legal battle over planning and juris- dictional control in the area. Once it took control, the county put in place interim zoning to try to match up with the White- fish-controlled zones that were already in place.
The commission will meet on Monday, July 20 at 10 a.m. to discuss authorizing the county to publish a notice about the public meeting that would be necessary to then vote on the district’s extension.
At the same meeting, the commission will also consider a text and map amend- ment for the doughnut area that would
Dejon Raines.
Troy City Council – Two positions open for four-year terms:
Joe Arts, Crystal Denton
Eureka City Council – Two positions open for four-year terms:
Rosalie Adauto, Kevin Jeffries, Greg- ory Thompson.
Rexford City Council – Two posi- tions open for four-year terms:
Kathleen Madaio, Bill F. Marvel.
KALISPELL
Planning Board Review Possible Restrictions for Casinos
The Kalispell Planning Board is reviewing potential changes to the city’s laws involving casinos. The request for a new casino on the north end of town in April sparked a substantial amount of public input, and city staff have reviewed possible options for restricting casinos in specific locations.
The possible scenarios being reviewed include limiting casinos to B-5 zoning or I-1 and 1-2 zoning locations; allowing casino machines only as a minor accessory use; prohibiting casinos north of Idaho Street; increasing the setbacks from casinos to 600 feet; establishing a casino overlay district; or any combina- tion of the above.
At a previous work session, planning board members requested more detail of
then affect the Flathead County Growth Policy.
FLATHEAD
Property Value Notices Show
Homeowners Tax Implications
Homeowners are getting prop- erty value notices in the mail from the Department of Revenue as officials pre- pare to calculate tax bills for the first half of the fiscal year.
The Montana Department of Revenue said in a press release that property val- ues are used to calculate tax bills that are sent out in November.
Reappraisal and classification notices show homeowners how a change in prop- erty value might impact their taxbill from last year to the current year.
The notices will be dated July 22, although they are being mailed earlier, and homeowners will have until Aug. 22 to ask for a review of their values. They also can appeal to county or state tax appeal boards.
LAKE
County Commission Looks to Expand
Court House
This week, the Lake County Commis- sion is looking at expanding its cramped courthouse. On July 14, the government board was considering a resolution of intent for courthouse expansion.
what a casino overlay district might look like within the city boundaries, similar to Whitefish. The scenarios and maps are posted online at kalispell.com.
According to state data, there are 29 casinos within the city limits. The addi- tion of the Town Pump Casino on the north end will raise the total to 30. Casi- nos are limited to 20 machines and the business must be tied to a state-issued liquor license.
Residents expressed concern over more casinos in the city during April’s debate.
WHITEFISH
Baker Avenue Closed for Renovation
Baker Avenue Bridge will be closed July 13-16 as crews repair and renovate the structure.
There will be detours at 4th Street and 5th Street on Baker Avenue for southbound traffic to detour out to Spo- kane Avenue. For northbound traffic, the detour will be at West 13th Street by The WAVE and again, traffic will be detoured to Highway 93 South.
Local traffic for residents will still occur, just the through traffic will be pre- vented on Baker Avenue.
The Flathead County Bridge Depart- ment will be conducting the project. For more information contact 758-5790.
The courthouse in Polson was spa- cious when it was first built in the 1930s but now it doesn’t have enough room to fit the court, county jail, sheriff’s office and county government offices. It’s got- ten so bad that the sheriff has released citizens charged with felonies because there is just not enough room in the jail. More than a decade ago, the state Leg- islature added a second district court judge in Lake County. With the addition of a second judge, the county agreed that it would remodel and expand its current courthouse.
Plans were drawn up for the addition, but it was pushed aside by the county commission because they were worried about the cost of the project. Since then, two district court judges and their staffs have shared an office meant for one. In 2013, when District Court Judge C.B. McNeil retired, he issued an order forcing the county to hold up its end of the deal and expand the court.
Current plans call for the third floor of the courthouse, where district court is now located, to be remodeled and an annex be built on the building. The com- missioners and the rest of county govern- ment would then move into the new addi- tion, leaving more room for the court, the county attorney’s office and the jail.
NEWS
COUNTY BEAT
14
JULY 15, 2015 | FLATHEADBEACON.COM