The Flathead National Forest has received an application from Eric Jacobsen and Thomas Knowles for a special use permit to operate Holland Lake Lodge with no proposed expansion.
Private equity investors Jacobsen and Knowles held a meeting announcing their interest in purchasing the historic lodge in the Swan Valley in September and the Forest Service received notice of a purchase agreement between the two and the current holders of the lodge’s special use permit — longtime owner Christian Wohlfiel and POWDR, owner of ski resorts across the country — in October.
A plan put forward by POWDR to expand the lodge was ultimately rejected by the Forest Service last fall after strong local opposition.
The Flathead National Forest is currently reviewing the new application to determine if it meets screening criteria, including technical and financial capabilities. If the screening is accepted, an environmental review will follow. Before a decision is made to issue a special use permit, there will be opportunity for public involvement.
The Flathead National Forest has not yet received a master development plan for Holland Lake Lodge from Jacobsen or Knowles. A MDP is submitted after a special use permit is approved by the Forest Service but is not part of the SUP application process.
“A master development plan is a conceptual guide only, intended to provide a long-term plan for the entire operation as envisioned by the holder of the special use authorization. A MDP does not authorize any action. Acceptance of an MDP does not constitute approval of its contents or provide any assurance that any item in the MDP will be authorized by the Forest Service or constructed by the holder,” Kira Powell, Flathead National Forest public affairs officer, said via email. “No changes to existing authorized use at the resort will be authorized without environmental analysis and public involvement under the National Environmental Policy Act."
Jacobsen is hosting a meeting at the Condon Community Center on Nov. 20 from 6-9 p.m. to engage with interested community members.
A clarification was made on Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. A master development plan is submitted after a special use permit is approved by the Forest Service. It is not part of the application process for a SUP. The article originally stated a MDP was required and needed to be approved before a SUP could be authorized.
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