North Fork Neighborhood Plan provides continuing support for zoning regulations

Updated Sept. 12, 2008—On June 12, the Flathead County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to adopt the North Fork Neighborhood Plan. The action followed the May 1 passage of a unanimous resolution of intent to adopt the plan, and a 30-day protest period during which no letters opposing the plan were received.
     Preparation of the final draft of the plan required some four years’ work by the North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee. The plan incorporates elements of the 1987 North Fork Neighborhood Plan and its 1992 addendum, along with North Fork Zoning Regulations that were enacted in 1998 and 2003 with the overwhelming support of North Fork landowners.
     Neighborhood plans are being formulated all over Flathead County to comply with a state law requiring them. A neighborhood plan represents the vision a community has for its future, thereby supporting existing and subsequent zoning regulations for each zoning district (neighborhood).
     Director of the Flathead County Planning & Zoning Office is Jeff Harris. The office is in the Earl Bennett Building, 1035 1st Ave., West, Kalispell, MT 59901; telephone (406) 751-8200.

Committee history, composition

The North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee was created by the Flathead County Board of Commissioners on July 23, 1987, for the following purposes:

• To monitor the effectiveness of the North Fork of the Flathead River Valley Land Use Plan
• To serve as the local liaison to the Flathead County Board of Commissioners, the Flathead County Planning & Zoning Office, and other county offices dealing with land-use issues on the North Fork
• To serve in an advisory capacity to provide guidance and information to landowners proposing to develop land on the North Fork.

     The Board of Commissioners stipulated that the committee hold open public meetings at least once a year.
     Through the years, the NFLUAC has worked with North Fork landowners and county officials to establish the North Fork Zoning District. In 2008, the committee successfully revised the North Fork Neighborhood Plan to meet the guidelines of the new Flathead County Growth Policy.
     An additional task of the committee is to review variance requests submitted to the county by landowners, and to advise county officials of its decisions.

Committee composition, members

Committee composition was specified by the county as follows:

• All eight North Fork Landowners’ Association board members
• One North Fork Compact representative
• One North Fork Preservation Association representative
• One member-at-large appointed by the county

Current North Fork Land Use Advisory Committee members are:

• Chairman John Frederick, North Fork Compact
• Valerie Cox, secretary
• Betsy Holycross
• Margaret Heaphy
• Lee Secrest
• Steve Berg
• Jan Caldwell
• Richard Hildner
• Molly Shepherd, NFLA past president
• Mitch Burgard, North Fork Preservation Association
• Randy Kenyon, member-at-large