Changes Made to Draft Plan, Chair Moseley Resigns

SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee (SVRPC) met May 4 to continue edits to the Swan Valley Regional Plan (SVRP). They considered comments from residents and Missoula lawyer Colleen Dowdall.

Comments from Swan Valley residents about the definition of the word goal on page 61 of the draft were discussed. SVRPC member Dwayne Forder said that the definition as written was hard to interpret and gave too much leeway for interpretation when the county considers the plan.

“We need to make it [the definition] more clear,” Forder said.

SVRPC members voted to change the wording of the original definition to a typical definition used by land planners: Goals are general statements of desired outcomes of the community. While often broadly written, goals should be stated specifically enough so that it is possible to assess whether progress has been made in achieving them.

Swan Valley resident Kathy Koors agreed that the new definition is easier to read by the public.

SVRPC voted to change the wording of Planning Premise No. 4. SVRPC member Dave Johnson said he wanted significant infrastructure of the community added to premises. The SVRPC voted to word Planning Premise No. 4 as follows: The local population is aging. This impacts the type of community services needed and has affected the Swan Valley Elementary school, emergency services and the local economy.

SVRPC also voted to accept edits by Dowdall which removed excess verbiage to the Planning Area Population and in the first four paragraphs of 1.0 Natural Resources and Environment Element.

Changes to the plan will be attached to the Missoula County website after the meeting minutes are approved at the following SVRPC meeting.

To view minutes and changes made at that meeting visit: http://missoulacounty.us/government/community-development/community-planning-services/projects/active-projects/swan-valley-plan-update

Chair Cilla Moseley resigned her position as chair of the committee effective immediately as she is moving to Minnesota to be near her grandchildren. She said she would stay in touch with SVRPC members’ work.

The next SVRPC meeting is May 11 at 7 p.m. at the Swan Valley Community Hall.