Committee Approves Draft Plan

SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee (SVRPC) approved the draft regional plan with pending edits at their Jan. 13 meeting. Once the final edits are made within the next week, the plan will be available for the public to review and make comments on prior to the Swan Valley Community Council’s approval.

Planner Bob Horne presented the committee with four new sub-sections to consider: wildlife-friendly fencing recommendations; improved communications between the county and council asking for a single point of contact for the community with the county; updated school section and added services offered by Swan Valley Connections. The committee approved each of the four sections with minor edits that will be made prior to public release of the draft plan.

Members of the public present at the meeting reiterated their concern that the plan does not go far enough in emphasizing the, “strategic location of the Swan Valley as the ‘jewel’ of the crown of the continent.”

The committee agreed that the plan adequately describes the valley, addresses the uniqueness of the Swan ecosystem and emphasizes the value of the wildlife. They did not feel terms such as crown of the continent or jewel needed to be added to the plan at this time. However, if the majority of the community disagreed with their decision they would reconsider.

The community unanimously agreed to accept the plan with edits from the meeting and present it to the public.

The committee intends to ask the Swan Valley Community Council at their next meeting, Jan. 19, to host a public meeting where they will present the draft plan to the community. Then the draft plan will be available on the Missoula County website and in hard copies at various locations in Condon for review and comment. The draft plan will also be shared with cooperating agencies for their review and comment.

The committee will meet again Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. at the Swan Valley Community Hall. The public is welcome.