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County sets Krystal Springs Estates public hearing amid traffic and SID concerns; Beaudette dissents
Summary
The commission set a Jan. 27, 2026 public hearing for the Krystal Springs Estates subdivision despite concerns about Jones Lane traffic. Planning Director Carl Hamming said the developer offered to have future lot owners waive protest rights to a Special Improvement District for potential road work; the motion passed 4–1 with Commissioner Ed Beaudette dissenting.
The Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission voted 4-1 on Jan. 6 to set a public hearing for Krystal Springs Estates on Jan. 27, 2026 after extended discussion about traffic impacts at Jones Lane and its intersection with Montana Highway 1.
Commissioner Ed Beaudette told the commission he attended the Planning Board hearing and remains concerned about the increase in traffic the subdivision would place on Jones Lane and the intersection with Highway 1 West. "I think we should have the developers address that situation in conjunction with the Montana Department of Transportation," Beaudette said, calling Jones Lane a "true choke point." Planning Director Carl Hamming said the developer included a waiver in subdivision documents under which future lot buyers would waive the right to protest the creation of a Special Improvement District (SID) that could fund road improvements. Hamming characterized the waiver as a tool to smooth later SID establishment if the county deems improvements necessary.
Commissioner Hart asked whether the SID boundary could include existing West Valley residents and increase assessed taxes; Hamming said district boundaries can be drawn narrowly but acknowledged some existing properties could be included. Public commenter Janice Hagen-Delaney asked whether waiving protest rights is constitutional; that legal question was not resolved at the meeting. The motion to set the hearing carried 4-1, with Commissioner Beaudette casting the dissenting vote.
