Bigfork committee recommends approval of retreat center
The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee recommended approval of a request for a conditional-use permit for a “camp and retreat center” north of Bigfork at its teleconference meeting last week.
The committee will forward a positive recommendation to the Flathead County Board of Adjustment for final approval. That board is scheduled to meet April 7.
The applicant, Doug Averill, owns Ranger Spring Farm, a 465-acre farm on the west side of Montana 35 a few miles north of the intersection with Montana 82. The permit would allow Averill to host agricultural, educational and equestrian programs at the farm.
Flathead County zoning regulations define a “camp/retreat center” as “land use to provide camping or retreat center activities characterized by a rural setting in a rustic environment. Uses are primarily seasonal, but they shall not be limited to such.”
The property is zoned AG-40, or agricultural zoning with a 40-acre minimum lot size, which is intended to protect and preserve agricultural land for agricultural functions. The applicant states the farm will continue with agricultural functions “and will look and function basically the same as in the past.”
According to the application, “The vision is creating a community-accessible farm, to include people of all ages, primarily youth, to engage in farm chores and activities, to learn from hands-on experience.”
The committee expressed some concerns about larger events – like ice-skating, rodeo and skijoring – that could draw more people. In public comment, Bill Naumann said he lives on a neighboring property and did not want to see concerts or any events that would create noise or parking issues.
Jill and Mike Stewart, who also live adjacent to the ranch, said they do not see how the ranch’s philanthropic activities will generate enough revenue to sustain the ranch. They said the ranch might have to rely on occasional big events to earn revenue, and they are concerned about the impact of those events.
Averill said he is not getting into the operation to make money, and the idea of the ranch is to do something beneficial for the community while retaining open space.
THE FARM will be the “home base” for a 501-c3 public nonprofit charitable foundation called Paladin. Averill said in his application the foundation will focus on giving a farm experience to special-needs and terminally ill children.
“There’s no guarantee that it will function,” Averill said in the meeting. “We’ll give it our best shot.”
He also said Ranger Springs Farm “is one of the early farms in the valley” and “other than the Hockaday Center there isn’t much on history of early farming.”
Existing buildings on the property include a cabin, house, caretaker’s facility, barn, shop and other out buildings. Averill states in his application that “no significant new buildings are planned,” and proposes to use the main house as a gathering point as well as a history center with displays. The red barn will be used to display historic carriages and wagons.
The application notes improvement projects over the next two years will include updating infrastructure, replacing corrals and equestrian facilities and updating irrigation systems for additional crops.
Averill intends to set aside 20 acres on the south side of the ranch for growing “organic products” for local outlets. A greenhouse structure would be added east of the existing potato shed to use for the farm-to-market operation, which would provide produce for Flathead Lake Lodge.
Committee member Chany Ockert said this was a good example of how a nonprofit organization can generate revenue.
Reporter Colin Gaiser may be reached at 758-4439 or cgaiser@dailyinterlake.com