Kootenai Lodge hearing draws large crowd, many protests
Leader Staff
POLSON — More than 100 people packed the courthouse's large conference room and spilled out into the hallway March 9 for the Lake County Planning Board's informational public meeting concerning the proposed Kootenai Lodge development at the mouth of Swan Lake.
Discussion about the Lodge started at 7:43 p.m. and continued until almost 10:30, at which time the board closed the public part of the meeting for discussion.
Presenting the proposal on behalf of the Milhous Group of Boca Raton, Fla., was Paul Milhous, who resides half the year directly across the river from the Kootenai Lodge property. He said he and his wife Mary Ann grew up in Anaconda. They had come to Montana in the summer for years to visit relatives and to spend time at the Marina Cay resort at Bigfork.
They liked the area so well, they decided to buy the property across from the historic Kootenai Lodge 15 years ago
From their Two Totem Lodge home on Rainbow Dr. they can see the deteriorating condition of the Kootenai property's log buildings including one with the roof covered by a blue tarp, he said.
About four or five years ago, they learned that Mark and Debi Rolfing had listed the property for sale. As time went by Milhous became more concerned about the "inevitability that someone would buy it" and he worried about what type of development would occur — if it might be a motel, RV park, something that would not blend in with the environment.
Milhous said that he and his brother Bob have specialized in restoring properties since 1967. Their attorney Charlie Siemon has a background in land planning and historic preservation. And working with them on the proposal is Jerry Peisach.
Milhous' proposed package, outlined at last week's meeting, would:
? Refurbish the historic lodge and the other buildings on the property.
? Build 65 additional single-family dwellings, including five duplexes.
? Provide a sewage treatment facility on a 63-acre tract one mile south of the property.
? Drill two new wells
? Maintain 50 to 55 feet distance between the new houses, meaning that 75 percent of area would still be open space.
? Construct a clubhouse with an indoor swimming pool
? Retain over 80 percent of the trees on the property.
? Materials used on the new homes would be varied — some log, rock, stucco, timber, cedar shake, etc., but would blend in with the environment.
? Establish a "condominium type operation" for maintenance and repair. This would provide all essential services for which owners would pay an annual fee.
Milhous said the units would be "high end" and that an expected purchaser would have it as a "second or third home" and would be a seasonal resident there probably staying only three to six weeks a year.
Planning board members asked Milhous several questions before opening the meeting to comments. Fielding some questions were attorney Siemon, former Lake County planner Dave DeGrandpre, and attorney Bill Astoe of Kalispell.
Following the developers' presentation, planning board chairman John Fleming laid down ground rules for testimony, saying that statements should be made to the board and avoid repeating details of letters the board had received. He said that board members had read all the letters and would not be swayed by emotion.
Protestors' concerns listed
Protestors lined up to come to the microphone and make their statements. Concerns were numerous and varied. They included:
? The type of sewage treatment. It was pointed out that Flathead Lake Biological Station (FLBS) director Jack Stanford in a letter said that a mere secondary treatment plant is not adequate. Tara Harbin, who wrote the covenants for The Ridge subdivision in which the treatment facility would be located, told the board that covenants prohibit such a use.
? An undisclosed number of boat docks planned.
? Safety issues for boaters, swimmers and floaters
? Lack of adequate advanced publicity. Only 21 property owners, including the developers, received official letters and only the required legal advertisement was published.
? Water quality, effect of drainage from roads and parking areas, fertilizer and pesticides.
? Failure to plan for historically accurate restorations would result in loss of the national historic site listing.
? Adverse density impacts of 65 units on 41 acres.
? Adequate fire protection, placing of a new fire station in the area and how to staff it.
? Effect of two more wells on the aquifer and on neighbors' wells.
? Impact on endangered species such as the grizzly bear, bull trout and bald eagle plus other wildlife.
? The need for more study because the state Dept. of Natural Resources hadn't studied the design yet and the lack of Flathead Lake Biological Station input.
? Increased road traffic.
? No specific designation of parkland.
? The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes had not had a chance to view the plan. It was pointed out that the Salish were in the area 14,000 years ago, and it's possible that there might be burial sites there.
Proponents make points
Three proponents testified. Among the points they mentioned:
? An appreciation of Milhous' efforts to retain the character of the property.
? Single-family dwellings were good.
? The estimate of seasonal dwellers of three to six weeks are accurate.
? If protestors don't want the Milhous plan, put up the money and buy it themselves.
? A much less desirable development plan for the area could be pursued by a different purchaser.
? All parties involved should meet and see if a mutually satisfactory plan could be reached.
"Today I was contacted by a Realtor that has a buyer for the property in its present condition," Denny Kellogg told the board.
The March 9 meeting was for informational purposes. The official planning board public hearing will be April 13 in Polson.
The board's recommendation, advisory only, will be reviewed by the county commissioners who would take final action May 5.
Planning board members are Fred Mueller, Bigfork; Ken Miller, Swan Lake; Clarence Brazil, Finley Point; Jerry Winkley, West Shore; Chairman John Fleming, Charlo; Bob Kormann, West Shore; Jack Meuli, Conservation District; Lesa Dumontier, Arlee; and Steve Hughes, Valley View.