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Commissioners approve Weil zone change in Bigfork after public concerns on notice and access
Summary
The commissioners approved a rezoning in the Bigfork zoning district from SAG-5 to R2.5 despite public comments raising concerns about notice and emergency access; planning staff noted similar lot sizes and existing uses nearby.
Flathead County commissioners on March 4 approved a zoning map amendment requested by property owners George and Atlanta Weil to change a Bigfork-area parcel at 395 Ferndale Drive from SAG-5 (suburban agricultural) to R2.5 (rural residential).
Seth Jogan of Flathead County Planning and Zoning presented the application, noting that the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee and the planning board both forwarded positive recommendations. Agency comments from Flathead City-County Health Department, Road and Bridge, and Solid Waste raised no objections to the change.
Three members of the public spoke during the hearing. Susan Anderson, who lives on Ferndale, said she had concerns about how notice was posted and whether property owners were adequately informed. She described posted signs as small and said one sign at the property had been knocked down by snowplow activity. Cheryl Rodnick raised safety concerns tied to limited access in the neighborhood, noting there is effectively one way in and out and that higher density could be problematic in an emergency.
Planning staff said the area near the Ferndale airstrip already contains smaller lots and nonresidential uses such as hangars, and that the R2.5 designation has similar allowed uses to SAG-5. The planning board had noted that while the map designation on paper identified agricultural uses, the on-the-ground pattern is denser.
After the findings of fact were read and adopted, commissioners voted to approve the Weil zone change (resolution number 956).
Ending: Planning staff will record the zoning amendment and the community was encouraged to participate when the county undertakes neighborhood-plan updates in the future.
