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County approves multiple lakeshore permits; denies marina extension for Flathead Lake Land Partners
Summary
Flathead County commissioners approved several lakeshore permit extensions and new permits at their April 1 hearing and denied a request to extend a commercial marina permit previously held by Norton Development LLC and now proposed by Flathead Lake Land Partners LLC (FLP‑23‑104).
At an April 1 public hearing the Flathead County commission took action on multiple lakeshore permit applications and extensions across Flathead, Whitefish and Ashley lakes.
Approvals included two Montana Family Ventures lakeshore permit extensions, a permit to remove a dying cottonwood tree on Whitefish Lake, a DNRC lessee’s request for a floating dock and water line on McGregor Lake, a private Ashley Lake dock replacement, and a dredging/shore‑station request on Flathead Lake. Each approved application stated work would occur at low pool, that no equipment would contact the lake, and that all debris and materials would be removed from the lakeshore protection zone; those conditions were read into the record by planning staff and adopted with the motions.
One notable exception: commissioners denied a lakeshore permit extension for Flathead Lake Land Partners LLC (previously Norton Development LLC), FLP‑23‑104. Commissioners questioned that no development had occurred under the prior permit and moved to deny the extension, concluding the new landowner should reapply if it intends to pursue the project. The substitute motion to deny passed by voice vote.
All other permits on the agenda were approved by motion, second and voice vote. Planning staff described several applications as partly completed (for example, docks in place while patios or walkways remain unfinished) and confirmed that no equipment or fill would contact the lake and that materials would not be stockpiled inside lakeshore protection zones.
Votes at a glance
- Montana Family Ventures — FLP‑23‑29 (application to install concrete retaining wall, riprap, flagstone pathways, shore rock fill; patio/walkway incomplete): approved by voice vote. - Montana Family Ventures — FLP‑23‑17 (steel piling dock and small flagstone patios; dock installed, patio not complete): approved by voice vote. - Flathead Lake Land Partners LLC (previously Norton Development LLC) — FLP‑23‑104 (commercial marina permit extension): denied by voice vote; commissioners stated the new owner should reapply. - Stevens — FLP‑25‑08 (remove dying cottonwood within LPZ at Whitefish Lake): approved by voice vote. - DNRC / O'Dell — FLP‑25‑12 (L‑configured floating dock, remove dead tree, reinstall water line at McGregor Lake; property leased from DNRC): approved by voice vote. - Hovelhorst / Brown — FLP‑25‑09 (replace floating dock at Ashley Lake; new dock to not exceed 8'x60', impervious coverage ~544 sq ft): approved by voice vote. - San Saint Lee — FLP‑25‑11 (dredge two boat slips, place shore station in one slip, moor buoy west of dock at Flathead Lake): approved by voice vote.
Planning staff emphasized standard conditions: work at low pool, no equipment contact with the lake, and removal of all debris and materials from the lakeshore protection zone. For the denied FLP‑23‑104, the rationale recorded in the hearing was that the prior permit holder had not developed the site and the new owner should file a fresh application rather than inherit the old permit.
