Planning Board decisions criticized

Editor,

The recent decision (given some conditions) by the Lake County Planning Board to approve the Kootenai Lodge subdivision reflects the development at all costs for corporate value system of the planning board, which will also be reflected in condo developments of the wetlands on Flathead Lake.

Many of us faithfully attended the various public participation hearings on Lake County planning, which were conducted by the former head of the Lake County Planning Department who now serves as a consultant for the Kootenai Lodge Subdivision developers.

At these public participation hearings, the overwhelming messages to the Lake County Commission, the Lake County Planning Board, and to the Lake County Planning Department were to protect the quality of life, of neighborhoods, and of the natural environment, which the public opinion and public interest made very clear.

And this would imply a low density instead of a Lake Tahoe mega monster where current and uncontrolled developments and populations are taking us. These public values are being ignored and discounted in favor of corporate/developmental values.

Perhaps it would be well worth the time for the above three governmental bodies to read these hearing reports (which were funded with taxpayers' money) on what the public really wants.

And our Montana state subdivision review laws are certainly damaging and degrading to the public interest/opinion as well as archaic and anti-environmental. Again, they also reflect the corporate/developmental value system. No wonder the Swan Lakers are taking them to court. Maybe our Montana State Legislature could try to do something to change this unsound and anti- environmental/public legislation, assuming our state representatives represent the public rather than corporate value systems.

Daniel H. Henning

Polson