Flathead County approves preliminary plat for Steamboat Landing after adding geotechnical monitoring condition

The Flathead County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 11 approved a preliminary plat for the Steamboat Landing subdivision in Somers, subject to a newly adopted condition requiring geotechnical testing and ongoing monitoring through final plat of each phase through phase 5.

The preliminary plat covers 63.79 acres at 603 Summers Road and proposes a phased development of 180 single-family lots plus five residential condominium lots containing 72 units — a total of 252 residential units — with about 5.966 acres of parkland and roughly 2.5 acres of open space within mapped wetlands and floodplain, Planning and Zoning staff said.

Why it matters: Residents and county officials debated potential hazards — including proximity to a former Burlington Northern creosote plant Superfund site, groundwater movement, soil stability and traffic impacts along Highway 82 — before the board added the geotechnical condition intended to address liquefaction and other soil concerns raised during public comment.

Planning staff summary and agency reviews Erin Appert, Flathead County planning and zoning staff, told commissioners the application included will-serve letters from Summers Water and Sewer District and Lakeside Water and Sewer District for phase 1 and that subsequent phases will require additional wastewater capacity and additional will-serve letters. Agency comments in the staff report cited DEQ review requirements, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wetland permitting, and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks recommendations, which asked for a 100-foot buffer around…