Shooting Range Idea Discussed, Public Comments Considered on Draft Plan

SWAN VALLEY - At their regular meeting July 17, the Swan Valley Community Council heard discussion about where and how to go about securing a suitable location for a local shooting range. The council also considered public comments on the final draft plan. They finished with Element One entitled Natural Resources and Environment and nearly all of Element Two entitled Economic Opportunity.

Chair Ken Donovan told those present that he heard complaints from those living near Cold Creek Road that people were firing guns close to their living quarters creating noise and safety issues. A discussion ensued about where a safe place could be purchased to create a shooting range that would accommodate long range guns, traps and pistols.

Resident Jesse Siloti said there are individuals and organizations willing to donate money for this purpose. He suggested forming a group of those interested who would pay dues to keep the area maintained.

Donovan said, “There is money and the desire to get [the shooting range] done. That perfect spot is out there someplace.”

Resident Loretta Thomas suggested contacting the Forest Service, the new Flathead National Forest district ranger Chris Dowling to attend a SVCC meeting in the future to discuss the possibility of purchasing land for a local shooting range.

Siloti said he would get the word out to those interested.

Members agreed to limit the section entitled Future Forest Management Activities in Element One to two sentences. They agreed that there was too much speculation and opinion in the piece.

The section now reads “A revised plan for the Flathead National Forest is in draft form, the public comment period having ended in May, 2015. For more information refer to the current Flathead National Forest Plan.”

After listening to comments relating to the Action section of the first element, SVCC member Nathan Richardson asked who is expected to carry out these actions, the county or the community?

Alternate member Sara Halm referred the council to the draft’s definition of Actions which states “Action statements contained in the plan are directed toward both the County and the community as appropriate.”

Member Lacey McNutt said, “We are relaying our values to the county [who can regulate our desires].”

After a lengthy discussion about Action number five that reads “Ensure that wildlife corridors are preserved to the extent possible and practical,” McNutt said she disagreed with using the word ensure. “We can not ensure that anything can happen.” she said.

The council agreed to change the wording to “Encourage the preservation of wildlife corridors.”

The council read the objections to number six in the first element’s Action section which states “Discourage land uses that will produce excessive, sustained noise levels”.

One comment suggested it, “could be worded more positively such as being a considerate neighbor in regards to noise concerns.”

The council agreed with the other comments that such an action was regulatory and members mentioned that the Noise section had been deleted from the final draft. The council unanimously voted to delete number six.

The council voted to remove the second paragraph in the Land section located in the second element. It called for guidelines for business and industry along Highway 83 for setbacks, height [of structures], fencing and landscaping. The members agreed with the comment that said it was too regulatory.

Referring to the section entitled Residential Construction, McNutt said, “We don’t need to tell about log home specifics. That is the builders’ area,” said McNutt. Council member Kathy Koors added that potential homeowners can do their own research.

The council voted to replace the paragraph about the specifics of log homes to read, “Home construction will always be an important part of the local economy in the Upper Swan.”

A comment from the public about the Guiding/Outfitting section objected to the plan saying that guides and outfitters come from outside the area when in fact there are local businesses. The council voted to replace the first four sentences with “Guiding and Outfitting are important local pastimes in the area and the money spent on those services enter the local economy.”

The council agreed to replace “increased publicity about” in the final sentence with “ In addition fishing, hunting, and other outdoor pursuits available in the Upper Swan will help to support this particular economic activity.”

After discussing the advent of offering private homes as rentals in the Swan Valley, the council voted to add, “An increasing number of private homes are being offered as rentals that provides dollars to the economy” to the section entitled Accommodations.

The council will begin with comments relating to the Goals, Policies and Actions pertaining to the second element entitled Economic Opportunity at the next regular meeting Aug. 21 at the Swan Valley Community Hall beginning at 7 p.m.