Page 14 - Flathead Beacon // 12.24.14

14 | DECEMBER 24, 2014 NEWS FLATHEADBEACON.COM County Lakeshore Regulations Move Forward
Decisions on Whitefish and Lost Coon lakes regulations headed to county commission
By BEACON STAFF
The Flathead County Planning Board moved for- ward a recommendation on how the county should handle lakeshore regulations for Whitefish Lake, an is- sue that the board has been discussing for months.
The regulation amendments are part of the nuts and bolts of Flathead County now having jurisdictional control over the planning area around Whitefish, com- monly referred to as the doughnut.
Now that Whitefish and Lost Coon lakes are part of the county jurisdiction, the planning board was given the task of working out lakeshore regulations.
On Dec. 17, the planning board chose Option 2 of a six-option matrix; the board recommends that Flat- head County amend the Flathead County Lake and Lakeshore Protection Regulations to include White- fish and Lost Coon lakes on the list over which the reg- ulations have jurisdiction.
This effectively eliminates the county’s separate Whitefish Area Lake and Lakeshore Protection Regu- lations for rural property on the lakes, according to planning and zoning director BJ Grieve.
The board’s recommendation also includes plans to review and revise the county’s lake and lakeshore regulations, as the board’s annual work plan al- lows. This means the revisions will fall into line with other priorities for the board, Grieve said, but the
Boats and jetskis cruise Whitefish Lake outside the designated swimming area. BEACON FILE PHOTO
board has acknowledged the importance of the lake- shore regulations.
The Flathead County Commission has the final say, and does not have to follow the planning board’s rec- ommendation. If the commission chooses to take the
recommendation, Grieve said the next step is to write a text amendment and possibly rescind the Flathead County Whitefish Area Lake and Lakeshore Protec- tion Regulations.
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