Urges folks to attend zoning hearing

If you live within 2 miles of the Columbia Falls city limits please take notice that Flathead County is assuming zoning jurisdiction of the soon to be eliminated 1-mile planning/zoning  “donut” around our town.    https://flathead.mt.gov/department-directory/commissioners-office/public-notices/public-hearing-columbia-falls-interim-zoning-district

The interlocal agreement between the City and County which supported the 1-mile planning jurisdiction ends on June 30th.  The County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on Thursday, June 27 at 10:15 a.m. in their office, third floor of the Courthouse, 800 S. Main, Kalispell.  It’s interesting the county is proposing a 2-mile zoning jurisdiction rather than the 1-mile.  While the establishment of the interim zoning district and the public hearing appears to be an administrative step... “It is imperative for an orderly progression of events for interim zoning to be established until the County holds public meetings and conducts studies to establish permanent zoning in the area.” (Quoted from public hearing notice). It’s also important that we show up to give the message to the County Planning Board and Commissioners that we’re watching and we’re not going away.  I plan to attend the hearing. Hope to see you there.

Shirley Folkwein

Upper Flathead Neighborhood Association