Commission approves Falcon Heights 2 preliminary plat and grants variance on road connectivity

The Gallatin County Commission approved the preliminary plat for Falcon Heights 2 on June 3, allowing a 10‑lot subdivision on an approximately 3.87‑acre parcel south of Heflin and west of Gooch Hill, and granted a variance from Section 2.3.1 of the county Transportation Design and Construction Standards that would otherwise require direct right‑of‑way connectivity to the adjacent Shamrock Stables parcel.

County planning staff and the applicant described the proposal as infill consistent with the Guacial West neighborhood plan and surrounding development. Ashley Gilbert, county planner, said the proposal includes 10 lots, two dedicated park parcels (0.34 acres total; the dedication requirement is 0.266 acres), sidewalks on both sides of the new road and approximately 500 feet of new roadway constructed to urban standards. The applicant, Mark Fasting, said the plan preserves mature trees and fits the surrounding pattern of development; the applicant proposes to connect both the north (Bow Perch Lane) and west (Sakers Way) road stubs through the property.

Planning staff recommended conditions of approval and noted engineering constraints at the southeast corner where the Falcon Heights parcel would meet the Shamrock Stables property: a 6–8% cross slope and limited frontage of about 160 feet on the Shamrock parcel would force substantial cut/fill or retaining walls if a connection were required. The planning board reviewed the application and recommended denial of the variance (3‑1) but recommended approval of the preliminary plat provided the subdivider dedicate a 60‑foot public right‑of‑way to the Shamrock property; the commission chose instead to grant the variance and strike the planning board’s dedication requirement.

Commissioners discussed transportation‑planning history and concluded that, in this specific infill instance, forcing the connection at this location would produce undesirable design outcomes and safety concerns. The commission approved the variance and then approved the preliminary plat with standard conditions (including roadway construction, grading, utilities and park dedication), removing the planning board’s condition requiring the 60‑foot dedication to Shamrock Stables.

The preliminary plat approval requires final plats, engineered infrastructure plans, sanitary approvals and other standard conditions before building permits can be issued. The subdivider plans to serve the subdivision with Ray Water and Sewer and to abandon the existing septic drain field for the existing home as a condition of final plat.