Board hears plan to double size of Somers

Developer offers to pay schools, fire department for impacts from project

A major subdivision proposal that would double the size of Somers comes before the Flathead County Planning Board for a public hearing Wednesday.

North Shore Ranch calls for 310 single-family home lots on 367 acres along the south side of Montana 82 - just east of Somers Road and adjacent to two federal waterfowl production areas.

Lots in the equestrian-themed project would range from 0.25 to 1.95 acres. They would be served by a new public water system and new sewage collection system; sewage treatment would be provided by the Lakeside Sewer District.

In an almost unprecedented move, the developer, Kleinhans Farms Estate, has agreed to provide $310,000 to the Somers School District and as much as $100,000 to the Somers Volunteer Fire Department to mitigate impacts the project might have on local school and fire services.

The subdivision features 157 acres of open space and common area, including horse and bike trails throughout the project, as well as buffer zones, an equestrian arena and stables, and some preserved wetlands.

At full build-out, North Shore Ranch is expected to generate 3,000 new vehicle trips a day along Montana 82.

The Montana Department of Transportation is asking for a 30-foot easement along the highway to accommodate any future expansion. A traffic impact study provided by the developer also recommends that new deceleration lanes be built to improve traffic safety, and that the developer help pay for new traffic lights at School Addition Road and at U.S. 93.

The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service both commented on this proposal, saying they were concerned about its proximity to the waterfowl production areas at the head of Flathead Lake.

Given the number of homes involved here, the agencies felt there could be problems with free-roaming pets, with homeowners trespassing when the production areas were closed during nesting season, with noise and with other potential negative impacts.

The Flathead County Planning Office staff recommends approval of the subdivision subject to 24 conditions, including a 150-foot no-build zone adjacent to the waterfowl production areas and a 50-foot buffer around any onsite wetlands.

This is the third major subdivision to be proposed north and east of Somers since December. There also have been several major condominium projects proposed south of town along Flathead Lake.

Together, these developments represent more than 1,300 residential units.

By comparison, 263 housing units were recorded in Somers and the surrounding area during the 2000 census.

Other items on Wednesday's planning board agenda include:

. A zone change for Semitool Inc. from SAG-10 to I-1 light industrial for 30 acres at 655 West Reserve Drive, immediately north of the company's existing manufacturing plant.

Semitool plans to build a 12,000-square-foot warehouse on the site.

. A zone change from SAG-10 to SAG-5 suburban agricultural for 73 acres on the east side of Airport Road south of Kalispell.

. The preliminary plat of the amendment plat of Lot 3, Old Stone subdivision, which will result in two single-family lots on 7.3 acres at 205 Evers Creek Road.

. A zone change from SAG-10 to SAG-5 for 15 acres at 1015 Birch Grove Road north of Kalispell.

The planning board meets in the second-floor conference room of the Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W., Kalispell, beginning at 6 p.m.

In other news related to growth in the Somers area, the Flathead County commissioners are scheduled to address the preliminary plat for the Meadowbrook Place subdivision at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

The project calls for 171 single-family home lots on 55 acres between Somers Road and School Addition Road, immediately south of the Tiebuckers subdivision.

The planning board twice recommended denial of the subdivision, saying the proposed density was too high. There were also concerns about sewage treatment capacity, traffic impacts, the condition of School Addition Road, and the location of the 100-year flood plain.

The commissioners could accept, reject or modify the preliminary plat. They typically don't accept public comment when acting on a plat application; however, a general public comment period is scheduled Thursday morning at 8:15 a.m.

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com