Planning Board OK's RV Park; onto commissioners

The Flathead County Planning Board last week voted to forward a recommendation of approval for a new RV Park west of Columbia Falls to the Flathead County Commissioners on a 5-2 vote.

The positive vote came with an added condition that the Park owners prove they have legal access to the property.

Robert and Geraldine Rupp are proposing to build 77 RV lots on 13 acres south of Highway 40 off Kinninnick Lane. Called Whispering Pines, to be built in two phases by the fall of 2023 or within five years of approval of their application.

The actual lots would take up about 2.65 acres of the park, roads another 2.3 acres, with about 8 acres of open space.

The park would have eight full service spaces, 42 partial spaces and 27 primitive spaces. There would be a bath house/office, caretaker house, water storage and a pump house as well.

Included would be a 5,000 gallon recharge tanker for fire protection, according to the Rupps’ application with the Flathead County Planning Department.

The acreage is unzoned.

Additional concerns brought up with the park include increased traffic on the road. It’s estimated that the Lane sees about 200 cars per day.

With the RV park, the traffic on the road would almost double, with an additional 186 vehicles per day for the two months of the year when the park is open.

No date has been set as to when county commissioners would take up the application — commissioners have final say in the matter.