County opens new comment period on outdoor park zoning request

Lake County commissioners have initiated a 30-day comment period for a limited group of respondents regarding a proposed zoning amendment that is part of a plan to create an outdoor recreation park near Rollins.

Torsten and Jessica Wedel are seeking a change in zoning regulations so they can build the park on about 17 acres between Lakeside and Rollins, on the west side of U.S. 93 and just south of Goose Bay and Table Bay. The Wedels say they aim to provide family-friendly activities for both locals and tourists outside the more popular areas of the Flathead Valley.

The Lake County Planning Board voted unanimously April 14 to recommend the county deny the zoning amendment request following a barrage of public comments in opposition to the proposal. On May 18 commissioners voted 2-1 to allow the proposal to advance, against the recommendation of the county Planning Board.

The proposed amendment to the county's Upper West Shore Zoning District regulations would allow for a range of commercial outdoor recreation activities, including nature viewing, ax throwing, outdoor laser tag, miniature golf, gem mining, rope courses, zip lines, summer day camps, horseback riding, tubing hills and "mountain rides."

The amended regulations would specifically prohibit commercial swimming pools, water parks, bowling alleys, RV parks and commercial resorts.

County staff have received thousands of comments regarding the proposal, many from outside of Lake County.

The new comment period, per state law, is open only to “persons owning real property within sub-district C of the Upper West Shore Zoning District.”

Wally Congdon, chief deputy county attorney for civil matters, said Monday that there are approximately 56 property owners within sub-district C, as of the latest assessment completed earlier this year.

During this period comments from residents who rent a home within the affected area will not be accepted.

“We’ve heard from 30,000 people on a petition,” Commissioner Gale Decker said during the May 18 meeting. “I want to hear from the people in Sub-District C.”

Following the 30-day comment period, commissioners will have another 30 days to take action on the request.

A legal notice announcing the comment period appears in the B section of today’s Lake County Leader.