Commissioners approve preliminary plat for Lakeside Estates phases 4 and 5, 35-lot subdivision near Lakeside

The Flathead County Board of Commissioners on March 13 approved the preliminary plat for Lakeside Estates phases 4 and 5, a proposed 35-lot single-family residential subdivision along Skokum Road near Lakeside.

Planning staff said the subdivision would be served by the Lakeside County Water and Sewer District for water and wastewater. The county’s planning board considered the proposal on Feb. 12 and voted 7–2 to adopt the staff report as findings of fact and to forward a positive recommendation to the commissioners. Agency comments included standard health-department review under Montana sanitation requirements, DNRC comments on the wildland-urban interface and a required fire prevention and fuels-reduction plan, and Flathead Conservation District comments expressing concern about a riparian area along Boerne Creek and potential stormwater runoff into the creek.

The commissioners read and adopted findings addressing environmental, infrastructure and public-safety issues. Conditions reflected in the findings require an improved riparian resource management plan, designation of open-space no-build areas to protect Boerne/Boerne Creek, a geotechnical soil analysis and grading plan for lots with building sites on slopes exceeding 25 percent, an approved weed-control plan, review and approvals from the Flathead City-County Health Department and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for water and wastewater facilities, and an approved fire prevention/control and fuels reduction plan prior to final plat approval. Road and bridge measures noted in the staff report include construction of internal roads to county standards and a road-maintenance mechanism; stop signs were recommended at certain intersections.

Staff said the subdivision’s history includes earlier preliminary-plat approvals in 1995 and 2009 and a final-plat filing for phase 3 in 2021; previous approvals had expired. The staff report estimated the subdivision would add roughly 12 students to local schools and that parkland dedication requirements were satisfied in earlier phases.

A motion to approve the preliminary plat carried by voice vote. Commissioners did not provide individual roll-call tallies in the meeting transcript; final plat approval remains contingent on meeting the conditions described in the findings.