West Glacier Lodge passes one county hurdle
The Flathead County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved a major land-use permit for Glacier Guides Lodge near West Glacier, paving the way for the lodge to wrap up a licensing issue in time for the summer tourist season.
Camp Winnakee, a limited liability corporation owned by partners Denny Gignoux, Randy Gayner and Cris Coughlin, built the lodge and opened it last summer under the parameters of a minor land-use permit. But last August the Flathead City-County Health Department ordered the lodge to close after officials determined the business failed to get proper permits. The owners got verbal approval to keep it open until the end of the summer season and applied for a major land-use permit.
Lodge owners are still working to obtain a required public accommodation license that will limit the lodge’s number of beds to 24.
The commissioners stalled a decision on the major land-use permit earlier this month, advising lodge owners to work out concerns over their well and septic system and resolve the occupancy issue.
“Since Jan. 4 we have met twice with our neighbors, and elected new officers to the Glacier Ridge Subdivision Water Board,” the owners said in a letter sent Tuesday to the commissioners. “The Department of Environmental Quality is re-reviewing the area. We are also currently working with the Flathead County Health Department to come to an agreement on bed arrangements and have agreed to 24 persons maximum.”
Commissioner Dale Lauman said he continues to have concerns over the potential for groundwater contamination and requested county officials to review “what DEQ comes back with and see how extensively they look” at the water system.
Commissioner Jim Dupont said he wants oversight from the county, too, to make sure the lodge holds to the 24-bed limit. Lodge owners still need to get a septic signoff from the county before the facility can reopen.
Commissioner Pam Holmquist said at the county level she didn’t think they could deny the permit because Camp Winnakee has met the legal requirements.
Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com