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Covering the Bitterroot Valley – “Where Montana Begins!” June 29th, 2019
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Volume XXXIV, Number 41
Established 1985 - Locally owned & independent
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
County sued over subdivision approval extensions By Michael Howell
Bitterrooters for Planning, a local non-profit organization that promotes planned development, has filed a lawsuit in District Court challenging the Ravalli County Commissioners’ recent decision to grant a third extension to development timelines for the Morado Mountain Estates Subdivision located six miles east of Florence. The subdivision was first proposed in or around 2006. The subdivision application included a
variance request from the developer, which, in 2008, was denied by the Commissioners. The variance requested to utilize a 50-foot easement on Eight Mile Creek Road, which did not meet county road standards requiring a 60-foot easement. The developer, along with an adjacent subdivision, Sandhill Ridge, sued the Commissioners for their failure to approve the variance. A court remanded the variance request back to the Commissioners for a new hearing and the Commissioners subsequently approved the variance request.
Skalkaho Bend Park
Additionally, the Commissioners settled with the developer in the amount of $300,000 in exchange for the developer’s dismissal of their lawsuit. The Commissioners eventually approved a preliminary plat for the 58-lot subdivision in July of 2011, initiating the developer’s proposed phasing plan that was scheduled to be completed in three phases. Phase 1, the first eleven lots, was to be completed by July 26, 2013; Phase 2, an additional 8 lots, was to be completed by July 26, 2015; and Phase 3, the
Bitter Root Land Trust seeks community support for park
In late 2017, Bitter Root Land Trust acquired 70 acres of open space along the Bitterroot River just south of downtown Hamilton. A place where anyone will be able to connect with nature, cast a line, take a walk with a friend, bird watch, feel the breeze, and hear the flow of the water over gravel shores. Acquiring this property is a wonderful opportunity to make sure Bitterroot Valley residents and visitors have a special place set aside for now and future generations, along with the wildlife who call this place home. BRLT is currently partnering with City of Hamilton officials to smoothly transition the natural space to city ownership. In 2014, BRLT gifted Steve Powell Park, a 22-acre natural space to the City of Hamilton. This portion of land builds on
Grand day
that open space and the land trust is excited to expand much needed public access opportunities for the whole community. Skalkaho Bend Park doubles the amount of contiguous public natural space and includes beautiful cottonwood galleries, open grassy riverbanks, and wetlands connected to the existing 60-acre River Park in downtown Hamilton. As the Bitterroot Valley grows, BRLT recognizes the need to focus on providing public amenities that serve the people and the wildlife. “We believe one of the most important components for a thriving Bitterroot Valley is maintaining the health and integrity of the Bitterroot River, while enhancing opportunities for community members and visitors to enjoy its
incredible beauty,” said Gavin Ricklefs, BRLT Executive Director. “We can’t do this alone, thanks to the generosity of private individuals and foundations, we now have $30,000 left to raise to make this park a reality. We need your help!” BRLT is launching a fundraising campaign to run from May 1 to June 1. The Create Your Park campaign will kick off on Wednesday, May 1 at 10 a.m. with an informal open house running until 6 p.m. The public is invited to stop by the office at 170 S. Second Street, Suite B, to learn more about the park. Information is also available on the website, www.bitterrootlandtrust. org where you can learn about a variety of activities happening at the future park throughout the month of May.
last 49 lots, was to be completed by July 26, 2019. An extension of this deadline granted in December 2012 pushed the phasing deadlines out to 2016, 2018, and 2022, respectively. Then in February of 2016, a second extension was granted, pushing the deadlines out to 2019, 2021, and 2025, respectively. In approving this third extension the Commissioners have pushed the deadlines out to 2022, 2024, and 2028, respectively. In developer Stacey Dykeman’s request for commission action, she cites the cost of the
development and the current market prices as the reason for the requested delay. It also states under Board of County Commissioner findings that the commissioners discussed that a third extension would be consistent with other extension approvals, but that they indicated to the developer “that it would be difficult to justify granting any further extensions.” It notes the BCC decided to grant a 3-year extension to the first and second phase, but only a 1-year extension to the third phase “so that the final
phase would need to be completed within 15 years of the original approval date.” Bitterrooters for Planning entered objections to the extension request during the public process, noting specifically that the developer cites the failure of local real estate sales to rebound enough to warrant further improvements. But BfP states, “As the Commission undoubtedly knows, county variance requests as they pertain to land development do not allow
By Michael Howell
comes to about $8,000 to $10,000 a month. The solar system was installed by Solar Plexus at a bid price of $89,900. NorthWestern Energy awarded the project a $46,748 grant. According to Management Specialist Shawn Fredrickson, NorthWestern Energy’s grant program for installing solar and wind energy generating projects is helping out on cost-saving projects across the state. Fredrickson said that due to the declining costs of solar panels combined with the rising costs related to wind generation operation and maintenance, most of the grants are going for solar installations these days. The grants are available for non-profit organiza-
tions and government facilities. Several solar projects have been awarded funding in the Bitterroot valley, including the panels installed at Hamilton Middle School. Darby School District has also recently qualified for a $25,000 grant and others are in the pipeline. Mayor Farrenkopf praised Public Works Director Donny Ramer for his efforts in putting the project together. He said Ramer took the initiative to seek the grant funding. “That’s the kind of guy he is,” said Farrenkopf. “He’s always looking for ways to improve our operations and at the same time save us some money wherever he can.”
See SUBDIVISION, page 16
Solar panels installed at Hamilton sewer plant
Hamilton Mayor Dominic Farrenkopf, Rick Hamilton from Solar Plexus, Public Works Director Donny Ramer, NorthWestern Energy District Manager Tim Moody and NorthWestern Energy Management Specialist Shawn Fredrickson were all on hand last week to dedicate the new solar panel array that has been installed atop a shed roof at the City’s wastewater treatment plant. According to Ramer, the estimated 50 kilowatts of electricity generated by the panels should shave about $7,000 off the annual cost of running the array of 150hp pumps that run 24/7 every day of the year at the plant. The city’s annual power bill at the plant
Hamilton Mayor Dominic Farrenkopf, Rick Hamilton from Solar Plexus, Public Works Director Donny Ramer, NorthWestern Energy District Manager Tim Moody and NorthWestern Energy Management Specialist Shawn Fredrickson were all on hand last week to dedicate the new solar panel array at the City’s wastewater treatment plant.
More than 650 people “crossed the red line” for a special tour of the new Surgery Center at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital’s open house last week. Chief of Surgery Dr. James Zubernis, Dr. Michael Dolecki, CEO John Bishop and Hospital Board Chair Lois Hedg-Peth all have a hand on the scissors as they perform what the Chief called the first major surgery in the new Surgery Center at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital. Hedg-Peth expressed a special thanks to a couple of major donors to the new surgery center. She thanked Valerie Gates for the $75,000 donation covering the cost of Surgical Suite #2 which is named in honor of her late husband Dr. Greg Gates. She also thanked Frank and Agnes Godchaux who donated the $150,000 for the large Waiting Area at the front of the center named in honor of Agnes. Amy James-Linton photos.