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Commissioners approve three preliminary plats; add road‑maintenance requirement for Plateau Acres
Summary
The Flathead County Commission approved preliminary plats for Copper Flats, Plateau Acres and Viking Mountain Ranch on Jan. 9, adding a required road‑user/maintenance agreement for Plateau Acres and correcting a fire‑district reference for Viking Mountain Ranch.
The Flathead County Commission approved three preliminary plats during its Jan. 9 meeting, advancing each project to the next step in the subdivision review process while adding or amending conditions tied to road maintenance, environmental reviews and fire‑district approvals.
Copper Flats: Erin Appert, planning and zoning staff, presented a preliminary plat for a four‑lot residential subdivision off Glacier Flats Road. The planning board had recommended approval 6‑1 following a Dec. 11 public hearing. Staff read findings that concluded minimal environmental impacts, required preservation of mapped wetlands as no‑build zones, and required DEQ and Flathead City‑County Health Department approvals for wells and septic before final plat. Commissioners approved the findings and the preliminary plat by voice vote.
Plateau Acres: Appert presented a three‑lot subdivision on West Spring Creek Road that includes project‑specific conditions related to wetlands, 100‑year floodplain areas and roadway improvements. Commissioners discussed a Flathead Conservation District comment that referenced Patrick Creek on the property; staff and a commissioner identified that reference as an apparent cut‑and‑paste error. The board debated labeling an adjoining road as unmaintained and whether to require the subdivision to enter into an agreement to maintain the portion of West Spring Creek Road that falls within the subdivision. The commission amended the findings and added a condition requiring a road users/maintenance agreement prior to final approval, then approved the preliminary plat.
Viking Mountain Ranch: Eric Mack presented a rereview of an expired five‑lot preliminary plat in the Creston area (Viking Mountain Road). Commissioners voted to change condition language to reference the Creston Fire District (instead of West Valley) and approved the preliminary plat. Commissioners noted that prior off‑site paving had already been completed under an earlier approval and that current rules for minor subdivisions do not require the same off‑site paving.
Across the three approvals, the commission required standard conditions such as weed‑control plans, fire prevention/fuels‑reduction plans and any necessary utility easements. Several approvals included the requirement that DEQ and local health‑department reviews be satisfied before final plat approval.
