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Flathead commissioners approve Tract 1 Shop Condos preliminary plat after traffic study debate
Summary
The Flathead County Board of Commissioners approved the preliminary plat for the Tract 1 Shop Condos (FPP-25-08) with conditions after hearing public concerns about the traffic impact study and coordination requirements with Montana Department of Transportation.
The Flathead County Board of Commissioners voted Dec. 2 to approve the preliminary plat for the Tract 1 Shop Condos (FPP-25-08), a phased, mixed-use condominium project covering about 10 acres and proposing 46 units, after discussion over a traffic impact study and required conditions.
Planning staff Kevin Serwer told the board the traffic impact study projects "up to 393 new daily trips at full build out" and identified minor delays at several intersections, including a drop in level of service at Summers Road and U.S. Highway 93. He said coordination with the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) will be required to address those impacts and implement mitigation measures.
The project includes 18 live-work one-bedroom units and 28 commercial units in three phases, to be served by shared wells and shared septic systems. Serwer said the Planning Board voted 7-0 to forward a positive recommendation to the commissioners.
During public comment, Jim Matthew urged the board to delay action until resolution of separate litigation. "Our county doesn't need another lawsuit against us. Let's do it right, please," Matthew said, noting his view that the applicant's TIS relied on assumptions from prior Steamboat Landing materials that are currently part of litigation.
Several commissioners emphasized that while the county may attach conditions, final decisions about signal timing and some intersection improvements lie with MDT. "We have some discretion, but we don't have the final say on what happens at those," the chair said, noting that required letters from MDT, the fire department and DEQ must be provided before final approval.
The board amended one finding to correct a referenced condition number, agreed the TIS and related mitigations will be coordinated with MDT, and then approved the preliminary plat by voice vote with standard conditions, including state reviews for water and wastewater prior to final plat approval.
Next steps: the developer must satisfy conditions (including state reviews and MDT coordination) before the county issues final plat approval.
