Vehemently objects to countywide zoning

R. Scott Matthews, Jr.

Recently, my wife and I decided to build a home on Flathead Lake. We are very excited over the prospects of having such a beautiful view to greet us every morning as that lake and terrain provide.

We made the selection of locating there after many trips west to find such a site. Something always seemed to pop up at each of the other areas that kept directing us back to Polson, and we were so glad they did!

I must say that one of the many variables we evaluated in our great quest was how warmly received we felt in each of the areas we evaluated. Some places didn't care if we lived or died. Others were happy to see us, but nowhere did we feel as comfortable as we did in Polson and Lake County. People were friendly there. Building and zoning requirements were reasonable and responsible to all involved. Contractors and lumberyards were happy to see us come along. We knew we had chosen our home site wisely.

Now comes news in the Lake County Leader, that the County Commission is considering implementing countywide zoning that will restrict the residential and commercial development of Lake County. While I understand the urgency of wanting to remove junk car lots and the like from such a pristine landscape, I was shocked to see that the proposed zoning ordinances accede toward such incredible lengths as to frustrate new developments within the county. Respectfully, I must ask, "What is going on here?"

First of all, to an outsider such as myself, I am not aware that there is presently (or soon will be) an overpopulation problem in Lake County. Nor am I aware of such an economic miracle taking place within the county that suddenly there is no longer room for additional increased prosperity among the contractors, laborers, shop owners, restaurateurs, and businessmen that might flourish with the introduction of outside capital coming into Lake County.

And certainly, as a fourth-generation landowner of farms in Missouri and Texas, I am made terribly uncomfortable that these political subdivisions may pick up on the lead of Lake County and restrict the utility of my other properties when I pass them along to succeeding generations. Wouldn't such draconian restrictions constitute uncompensated seizure as is now restricted by our U.S. Constitution?

I must admit that I am ignorant of the motive of the Commissioners in implementing such, in my opinion, unnecessary regulation. This all appears to me to be a solution in a desperate search of a problem. My wife and I chose Polson, and Lake County, as a place to build a home precisely to get far away from this type of governmental intrusion. Maybe there is a perfectly clear reason for these actions, and I would stand aside if those reasons make sense.

However, until that case is made to me, I vehemently object to the plans by your commission to invoke the countywide zoning plan now before you.