Planning Committee Edits Draft Plan

SWAN VALLEY - The Swan Valley Regional Planning Committee (SVRPC) met July 13 to consider public comments and Missoula lawyer Colleen Dowdall’s edits to the draft regional plan. The committee addressed and edited sections in the Natural Resources and Environmental Element including Ground Water Quality, Noise and Light Pollution. The committee voted four to one to delete the entire Climate Change section.

The SVRPC voted with two opposed to accept Dowdall’s edits to the first three paragraphs in Ground Water Quality which removed excess verbiage and clarified that proposed subdivisions are “subject to the Montana Sanitation in Subdivision Act.”

Committee members agreed unanimously with member Diann Ericson’s recommendation to include the remaining original draft paragraphs of the Ground Water Quality section in the appendix. She said that it shortens the document but preserves the information for interested community members.

Ericson said,” It is a service to the community to keep this information.”

Committee member Dave Johnson added that the planning committee wanted to represent the collective thoughts of the public to the Missoula County Commissioners about how highly the community regards clean water.

The SVRPC members agreed with alternate committee member Sara Halm that the majority of the public comments to the committee stated that they did not want any noise standards for both resident and commercial. The committee voted with two opposed to retain the sentences in the original draft’s Noise section that according to Johnson, “are an expression of concern and are not regulatory.” The sentences read: “The peace and quiet of living amid the mountains and forest is one of the great attractions of the Upper Swan Valley. Residents mindful of preserving this important amenity would like for future development to comply with some reasonable noise standard so that they can continue to enjoy their properties as they always have.”

The committee voted with one opposed to accept Dowdall’s edits to the Light Pollution section. Edits to the section stated that subdivision approval may require lighting that does not allow light or glare to be visible off site so that residents in the valley can experience the beauty of the night sky.

Halm said that the climate change issue is important but, for the purposes of the plan, the Climate Change section is too general. “It [the section] doesn’t help or hinder development,” said Halm. The committee voted with one opposed to delete the section from the draft plan.

To view minutes approved at the following SVRPC meeting that include changes to the draft, visit: http://missoulacounty.us/government/community-development/community-planning-services/projects/active-projects/swan-valley-plan-update

The next SVRPC meeting will be held at the Swan Valley Community Hall Wednesday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m.