Page 14 - Flathead Beacon // 12.25.13

14 | DECEMBER 25, 2013 NEWS FLATHEADBEACON.COM

County Approves Evergreen Interim Business Zone

New zone will allow for
more industrial uses SINCE THE ENTERPRISE

along commercial corridor
ZONE STATUS IS TEMPO-

RARY IT WILL LAST FOR

By MOLLY PRIDDY of the Beacon
A YEAR, WITH THE POS-
The Flathead County Commission
approved a new, interim zone for Ever- SIBILITY OF A ONE-YEAR
green that would ideally allow for more
EXTENSION.
uses along the area’s commercial corri-
dor.
Commissioners Pam Holmquist,
Gary Krueger and Cal Scott unanimous-
ly voted in favor of the zone change, A public hearing at the commission-
which was a publicly initiated endeavor ers’ chambers had three people show
brought to the county’s planning and support for the new zone, and none
zoning department.
spoke up in opposition.

The new zone is classiied as an en- The commission took time to thank
terprise zone, and would afect the com- the Evergreen chamber as well as the
mercial corridor within Evergreen, Traic lows along U.S. Highway 2 through Evergreen.FILE PHOTO BY LIDO VIZZUTTI | FLATHEAD BEACON
planning staf who worked on the zone,
which is already largely zoned for busi- noting that such a change will likely
ness with B-2 and B-3 classiications.
have positive impacts.
merce supported the interim zone ridor was put in place 25 years ago and
An enterprise zone allows for “light “I think this is a very good thing for change, noting that such a designation emphasizes retail, which might prevent
assembly and manufacturing, fabrica- the Flathead Valley,” Holmquist said.
could help enhance the area’s economic the reuse of existing, vacant buildings.

tion and processing, repairing, pack- Krueger said he supported public- viability. The chamber initially came to Since the enterprise zone status is
ing, storage facilities, warehousing and ly initiated ideas, and those who have Flathead County about the zone possi- temporary – it will last for a year, with
distribution of products and equipment thoughts about how to improve the area bility in June, and the county gave the the possibility of a one-year extension
provided that such uses do not produce should bring them up with the planning planning department permission to pro- – it will allow Evergreen to see if the ex-
objectionable impacts beyond the lot department.
cess the request in October.
isting zoning is holding back economic
lines and do not involve materials that The interim enterprise zone will go As part of its reasoning behind the development. If there are changes that
are explosive, hazardous or toxic.”
into efect on Jan. 1.
request, the chamber said the current have economic impact on the area, the
The Evergreen Chamber of Com-
[email protected]
zone scheme along the commercial cor-
chamber can pursue a permanent ix.

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