At the Flathead County Planning Board meeting tonight, the plans for a private luxury golf club dubbed the “Flathead Lake Club” in Lakeside will be unveiled in its first public hearing.
According to the staff report, the proposal includes 359 single-family residential lots and seven commercial lots on 1,700 acres, which will be served by Lakeside Water and Sewer District for wastewater treatment upon each phase of completion. Road access to the lots would be from a “network of internal subdivision roads” from two separate U.S. Highway 93 access points, one of which borders Legacy Bike Park. The property includes the remainder of an airfield that extends into the Eagle Development subdivision, which lies to the north.
In addition to the luxury homes, the “amenity lots” serving residents would include restaurants, clubhouses, a spa, fitness areas, offices, retail stores and maintenance facilities along with open space totaling 864 acres.
If approved, the project would be separated into five phases, with the first estimated completion date scheduled for March 31, 2026 and the final phase completion exactly two years later.
The project has received “numerous” written public comments so far, with primary concerns from neighbors including emergency egress in the event of a wildfire, access from U.S. Highway 93 for Legacy Bike Park and wildlife habitat, which includes wolverines.
Public agencies have also provided public comment on the proposal, with the Flathead Conservation District (FCD) identifying resource concerns with water quality and availability.
Drought, contamination and ecosystem degradation are among the concerns with stormwater runoff and pesticides threatening nearby Stoner Creek while the Lakeside Sewer and Water District would need upgrading.
“FCD emphasizes the need to prioritize responsible development and sustainable growth in the region,” the public comment states. “The Lakeside Sewer and Water District’s treatment capacity needs to be upgraded to accommodate projects such as the Flathead Lake Club. FCD has noted concerns regarding the Lakeside Sewer and Water District’s capacity and treatment quality and the consequences of the system failing.”
The Texas-based developers, who have applied as “Flathead Friends, LLC,” are part of Discovery Land Company, a luxury real estate company that operates “private residential communities and resorts with a world-renowned portfolio,” according to its website.
Its Montana properties include Crazy Mountain Ranch in Shields Valley, Iron Horse Golf Club in Whitefish and the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky.
While the Flathead Lake Club is not yet been approved, it is listed on Discovery’s website under one of its “worlds” as “Territory 1889 Golf & Lake Club” and is described as a “a place where nature writes the rhythm of life.”
“Territory 1889 is a destination for those who crave connection – with the outdoors, with their families, and with something bigger than themselves. Days here unfold between the lake club and the trailhead, the pool deck and the putting green. With curated dining, well-being, and outdoor pursuits, it’s a place where luxury lives easy – and where Montana’s wild beauty is always just outside your door.”
The Flathead Planning Board meeting will be held in the second floor conference room of
the South Campus Building located at 40 11th Street West in Kalispell at 6 p.m.
I’m Maggie Dresser, here to catch you up with today’s Daily Roundup.
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To find out more about Emma and other pet adoption opportunities at the Humane Society of Northwest Montana go to: www.humanesocietypets.com. To donate to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana, visit the organization’s donation page here.
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