West Glacier restaurant, hotel, gets first OK

By TERESA BYRD

Hungry Horse News

The Middle Canyon Land Use Advisory Committee unanimously Tuesday approved a motion to recommend granting a major land use permit to Hunter’s Lair LLC for to develop a restaurant and hotel on 36 acres of land just south of Glacier National Park.

The property, previously owned by Glacier Heli-Tours, contains three existing structures. The plan proposes expanding one and remodeling the remaining two. The existing garage will be expanded and remodeled into the main hotel/restaurant/bar complex. The existing hangar will become a guest recreational facility and the existing single-family home will become employee housing for 10 to 14 of the projected 65 employees. The project will also include the addition of 30 new semi-individual hotel units clustered in five main areas across the property.

The permit is a requirement of the Canyon Land Use Regulatory System zoning district for any greater-than 25% expansion of an existing commercial entity.

Hunter’s Lair LLC was represented at the meeting by Nathan Lucke of 406 Engineering, the firm providing technical assistance for the project, and Terry Kramer of Kramer Enterprises Inc, the general contractor for the project. Lucke, a fifth-generation Montanan, expressed pride in representing the project.

“When 406 Engineering receives a developer’s concept for a project, the first step we take is to look at feasibility and at what kinds of regulations there are,” Lucke said.

“Based on this meeting and the feedback we’ve received from the planning office, it looks like we have a project that meets the regs. So we’re happy to bring forth a project to you this evening that does comply with the regulations,” Lucke told the three-member board.

The project includes several conditions, including an Department of Environmental Quality approved septic system. The Montana Department of Transportation wanted to correct an approach-permit formality and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks supplied management information on ungulate winter range and minimizing wildlife attractants. The Flathead County Solid Waste District mandated all solid waste generated at the site should be removed by a licensed hauler.

There were two comments from the public. Both were concerned with traffic on Belton Stage Road and one was concerned with new lighting infringing on Glacier National Park’s dark skies.

But Kramer said the lighting would be dark sky compliant.

The project now goes before the Flathead County Planning and Zoning Board who will review the project on March 11 before sending their recommendations on to Flathead County Commissioners.

The planning board will receive written comments up until 5 p.m. March 11, and will also take public comments at the meeting. Contact information for submitting written comments can be found at https://flathead.mt.gov/planning_zoning/index.php.