Commissioners table Canyon area land-use amendments after planners flag duplex/short-term rental ambiguity

Flathead County commissioners on March 4 voted to table proposed text amendments to the Canyon Area Land Use Regulatory System (resolution 1049S) after staff and public commenters raised questions about how the draft language would treat duplexes and short-term rental housing.

Erin Appert of the county planning and zoning office summarized the package of changes, saying the amendments aim to clarify short-term rental housing rules, guest cabin and guest cottage definitions, enforcement provisions, and other performance standards across the Canyon area. "It would clarify the requirements for short term rental housing and how they relate to guest cabins," Appert said.

Public commenters, including Caitlin Hunt of West Glacier, asked for clearer language on duplexes. "Duplex properties are an exempted use within the designated community center of West Glacier," Hunt told commissioners. "The current language specifies that short term rental housing shall be within a single family dwelling, but fails to address how this applies to duplexes, which could reasonably be interpreted as two single family dwellings on one property."

Planning staff agreed further clarification is needed. County commissioners voted to table the item and directed staff to work with legal counsel and stakeholders to draft language addressing duplexes and any resulting land-use review triggers for short-term rentals. The motion to table carried by voice vote.

Ending: Appert and planning staff will revise the draft language and return the amended text for a future hearing.