Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee
(BLUAC)
Flathead County Commissioners established the Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee (BLUAC) in 1993 with the adoption of the Bigfork Neighborhood Zoning District. The Committee consists of six elected members and one appointed Member at Large. Elected members serve for three years, the appointed Member at large serves for one year.
BLUAC acts in an advisory capacity for official Flathead County land use decision-making boards and Flathead County Commissioners concerning applications and proposals for growth and development projects within the Bigfork Zoning District of Flathead County, Montana. The Committee serves as a liaison between Bigfork citizens and the County in providing useful and beneficial information utilizing citizen input concerning issues of interest and concern to the community. BLUAC provides leadership and expertise in supporting community efforts to secure orderly growth and development within the defined land use area.
________________________
AGENDA
______________________
Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee
John Bourquin (2014)
837-0669
Shelley Gonzales, Chairman (2012)
837-5346
Paul Guerrant, Vice-Chairman (2012)
837-2124
Susan Johnson (2012)
837-2459
P. Sterling Kerr
837-7257
Joyce L. Mitchell (2013)
837-1800
John Righetti
249-5753
Sue Hanson
BLUAC Secretary
220 Swan River Road - Bigfork, MT 59911
837-5323
btrfly@montanasky.net
______________________________________________
Next regular meeting February 23, 2012
Bethany Lutheran Church 4:00 p.m.
Past BLUAC Minutes are available electronically. Please contact:
Sue Hanson, Secretary
btrfly@montanasky.net
BIGFORK LAND USE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
BYLAWS
Available electronically
__________________________________________________
MINUTES
January 26, 2012 Minutes of
Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee
Bethany Lutheran Church
DRAFT
Committee members present: Joyce Mitchell, John Bourquin, Paul Guerrant, Shelley Gonzales, John Righetti, Sue Hanson and 10 members of the public.
Chairman Gonzales called the meeting to order at 4:00p.m.
The Agenda was adopted as presented (m/sc Mitchell/Righetti)-unanimous.
Minutes of the December 29, 2011 meeting were approved as corrected. (m/sc Mitchell/Righetti)
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
A. Sign-in Sheet: Reminder to the public of the availability of BLUAC minutes through email and BSC website bigforksteering.org/. Agendas are posted on the Flathead County Planning Office website flathead.mt.gov/
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
APPLICATIONS:
A. MBM Investments (FCU-11-11): A request by MBM Investments for a Conditional Use Permit to allow expansion of existing non-conforming uses on two parcels which will include enlarging the design and manufacturing facility on the southern lot as well as increasing storage capacity within the facility on the northern lot and improving parking and site circulation. The properties are located at 7545 and 7583 Montana Highway 35 within the Bigfork, B-3 (Community Business) Zoning District.
STAFF:
Bailey Minnich: Displayed a sight map of the area and pointed the two proposed expansions. First phase would be an expansion on Lot 2, the second phase the expansion on Lot1. Applicants have adequately addressed parking with 52 spaces. There are three existing accesses from Hwy 35. Only odd condition: To complete construction within 5 years from date of approval ( #11).
APPLICANT: Lloyd and Laura Meissenburg. Applicants had no additional comments on application or staff report. Bob Erickson was on hand representing the owner and here to answer any questions.
Mitchell: Please explain parking.
Staff: Page 10 of staff report. Minnich explained traffic patterns on both lots. The one-way traffic flow will be paved. Majority of additional parking will be on the east side. Part of the improvement will be delineating parking spaces, which have not been designated in the past.
Righetti: Will the most southern entrance have a two-way access to Hwy 35. A. Yes. That is also access for the tire place.
Guerrant: Can southbound traffic make a left turn into those accesses? A: (Meissenburg) Always have in past. There is not a double yellow line in Hwy 35 there.
Bourquin: Tell me about your up blast ventilation system. A: (Erickson) It was designed that way because of properties to the east.
PUBLIC AGENCIES:
None
PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
BLUAC:
Bourquin: Noticed in Summary of Findings #15, that up blast ventilation is not a requirement. I would like to recommend adding that to the conditions: Motion: Recommend adding Condition #12 to read proposed expansion of non-conforming conditions shall include the installation of up-blast ventilation. Guerrant second. Motion passed unanimously.
Gonzales: Fine project. It is nice to see some expansion in Bigfork in these difficult economic times.
Mitchell: Support the expansion that hopefully means increasing employment in our area. Commend the owners on the landscaping which is not a requirement.
Righetti: On northern lot, will you do anything to the front building? A: (Meissenburg) Not right now, with the food bank there. They really don’t have any place to go right now. Should food bank leave, we would demolish that building.
Righetti: Move to recommend approval of the application with the previous recommended addition of Condition 12. Gonzales second. Passed unanimously.
The Flathead County Planning Board of Adjustment will review this application on February 7, 2012, 6:00 p.m. at Earl Bennett Building, 1035 1st Avenue West, Kalispell, MT.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. None
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Discussion regarding funding for website.
Gonzales: We left last month with discussing funding for website management and future financial needs of BSC plus possible donation to Bethany Lutheran Church.
B J: I checked with the County Attorney and the issue is that sub-units of Flathead County cannot have budgets, raise money or spend money. It is an issue of accountability within the financial practices of the County. Money for updating the Neighborhood Plan should be raised and accounted for by a private or separate entity.
Hanson: BSC existed long before it became a sub-committee of BLUAC. In 1993, funds were raised for a survey and compilation/copies of the original plan. Previous BLUAC wanted more control of BSC, thus the amendment to the Bylaws to make it a sub-committee. BLUAC would need an amendment to their Bylaws to separate BSC from BLUAC.
Gonzales: When we were doing the fund raising, the funds went through CFBB and managed by Chrysler & Gordon and it wasn’t until we were missing $400 from the accounting form that we separated from them.
BJ: If BSC wants to continue, it can register as a 501 3 c, it just can’t be linked to Flathead County.
Craig Wagner: Presented information regarding U. S. Constitution/Bill of Rights and MCA 35-2-904. We could be a stand-alone committee.
Guerrant: We would need to change our Bylaws? Can we address this at our next meeting?
Gonzales: Yes. The Commissioners must approve of any change in Bylaws, but it is a simple process.
Mitchell: It would appear that by separating that relationship it would solve a lot of issues.
Wagner: BSC was the initiator of numerous projects besides the Neighborhood Plan, including the Stormwater Committee, Resort Tax, Incorporation, etc. It’s valuable in this community.
Gonzales: (Polling the Committee) Shall we address this this next month? February is the month we normally review the Bylaws. All agree.
Bourquin: From LUAC training, there were some suggestions for LUAC Bylaws. I’ll review that before we meet.
Guerrant: Is county still working on Impact Fees? A: No. Committee was disbanded. There is still an Impact Fee Code on the state level.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:03 p.m.
Next meeting February 23, 2012
Sue Hanson
BLUAC Secretary
December 29, 2011 Minutes of
Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee
Bethany Lutheran Church
Committee members present: Susan Johnson, Joyce Mitchell, Sterling Kerr, John Bourquin, Paul Guerrant, Shelley Gonzales, John Righetti, Sue Hanson and 12 members of the public.
Chairman Gonzales called the meeting to order at 4:00p.m.
The Agenda was adopted as presented (m/sc Righetti/Mitchell)-unanimous.
Minutes of the December 1, 2011 meeting were approved. (m/sc Righetti/Mitchell)
ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:
A. Sign-in Sheet: Reminder to the public of the availability of BLUAC minutes through email and BSC website bigforksteering.org/. Agendas are posted on the Flathead County Planning Office website flathead.mt.gov/
B. Status: the Flathead County Planning Board approved the application for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena on October 19, 2011. Flathead County Commissioners approved the application on December 21, 2011.
C. Elections: Three positions are to be elected on May 8, 2012: Shelley Gonzales (3 year term), Paul Guerrant (3 year term), Susan Johnson (1 year term remaining). Petitions to file for elected positions are due at the Election Office on February 23, 2012.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
APPLICATIONS:
A. Sortino Family (FZV-11-02): A request by Sarah, Jolene and Paloma Dugan, Lesley Stokke and Bianca Angell for a variance to Section 3.07.040(2) “Bulk and Dimensional Requirements” for a “SAG-10 Suburban Agricultural” zone, requiring a lot or parcel to maintain an average depth no greater than three (3) times its average width, unless the lot or parcel’s width is greater than 300 feet. The variance requested would apply to five adjacent tracts of land located at 494, 482, 440, 414, and 386 Holt Drive in Bigfork and within the Holt zoning district.
STAFF: Allison Mouch: Based on new information received in the last 48 hours, and public comment received by the Planning Office, the applicant requested the application be pulled. BJ Grieve: The Planning Office received official notice that the applicant was withdrawing the application and there was not sufficient time to notify the public. We decided to attend the meeting tonight in case there were procedural questions. Should the applicant choose to proceed, they will need to go through the entire process again.
APPLICANT: Olaf Irvin: The applicant has no intention to reapply.
PUBLIC AGENCIES:
Julie Spencer: The BWS would like to know if the current lots are still viable lots to serve. A: Allison Mouch: Yes, the lots are status quo.
PUBLIC COMMENT: None
OLD BUSINESS:
A. Status grant funding for website:
Craig Wagner: (Presented two handouts to the committee)
1. Costs to maintain website: The cost for hosting is the non-profit rate of $10 per month ($120 per year) billed every six months. Domain Registration is $35 per year and is paid up until November 12, 2013.
2. Grant Funding: There are quite a few foundations in the state of MT. We looked into the Orton Family Foundation, Montana Community Foundation, Flathead Community Foundation, which require a 501-c-3 incorporation to qualify. I spoke to Mike Randall of Flathead Electric, which has sources for grant funding. Other suggestions are CFBB, Flathead Bank and Glacier Bank. We could also put together a plea for funds from our mailing list.
Gonzales: Orton Family Foundation looks like a venue to look at for funding for updating the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan. There is the possibility to put it together with what Polson is doing for bringing business into Bigfork, etc.
NEW BUSINESS:
A. Donation for Bethany Lutheran Church:
Guerrant: The BSC has had a tradition of making donations to the church for use of its facilities. In the past we have had BSC funds to do this.
BJ Grieve: I think we need to check with the Co. Attorney regarding this. My understanding is that county committees cannot raise funds.
Ed Blackler: Steering Committee existed prior to BLUAC. It was established in the early 90’s, before the Bigfork Neighborhood Plan was in place. The BSC became a sub-committee to BLUAC much later by a change in BLUAC Bylaws. This is something that will have a bearing in the future.
BJ Grieve: To be clear, you are still under the discussion of fundraising and it would be a good idea to seek the advise of the Flathead County Attorney.
Gonzales: With that in mind, we will postpone a decision until we have that information.
Meeting was adjourned at 4:30p.m.
Next meeting January 26, 2012
Sue Hanson
BLUAC Secretary
|
