Proposed Polson zoning changes need public input
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POLSON — Residents are encouraged to attend a meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, in City Council Chambers to ask questions and offer suggestions regarding proposed development code changes for Polson and nearby county areas.
The City-County Planning board has been reworking the current Polson Development Code “to make it compliant, simple and legal,” said Sam Jacobson, City County Planning Council member.
Zoning changes inevitably affect property rights, Jacobson said.
“It’s a big deal. Whenever you change zoning, there are winners and losers,” he said.
A city’s planning code is a comprehensive land-use planning document designating mapped zones that determine how and where growth can take place — whether a developer wants to build condominiums or a resident wants to add fencing.
Joslyn Shackelford, vice chair of the board, said the current code Polson operates under was created in 1993.
“It is definitely in need of updating to Montana State Law and Code we have to adhere to,” she said.
Also, the Polson community has grown and developed in different areas than where the previous planners anticipated, such as the business growth in the Polson Hill area.
In various “donut areas” — transition areas that currently encompass both Polson and Lake County jurisdictions — proposed changes would include these areas into the Polson Development Code.
Other major changes include creating a new hospital zone and an old town zone.
The old town zone is proposed to protect historical homes and keep the integrity and feel of a traditional neighborhood.
“Therefore, a developer cannot buy a block and (demolish) those landmarks,” Shackelford said. “That was really important to some of the volunteers (on the board).”
Many communities have a historical district, she said, and
“it’s odd we haven’t had it in the past.”
Some of the zoning changes also include density changes.
For instance, the idea behind the proposed Hospital Mixed Zoning District near Providence St. Joseph Medical Center is to create a medical hub, so everything related is consolidated in one area.
The proposed hospital zone is currently a mix of low-density and medium-density zones. Property values can increase when their zone is raised from low-density to medium density because access to medical services is nearby. Or, they could go down, depending if the homeowner’s neighbor is now a commercial piece with traffic day and night.
“It can go both ways,” Shackelford said.
The proposed changes have been in the works for six or seven years. The planning council doesn’t approve or disapprove the proposed changes. Their job, according to Jacobson, is to do the grunt work and make recommendations to city council.
Boardmembers hope to have the new PDC in place by Thanksgiving.
Since June, the board has been holding workshop-style, open-discussion, conversational meetings twice monthly with the public. Meeting notices are posted in City Hall and published in the newspaper, Shackelford said.
“We are not doing this behind closed doors,” she said. “We want to get feedback. We want your comments now, instead of at almost-final draft.”
Shackelford encourages everyone to read the proposed draft, available on the City’s website at www.cityofpolson.com, prior to the Aug. 26 meeting.
Jacobson also encouraged residents to attend the upcoming meeting.
“The time to talk is now, not at the public hearing,” Jacobson said. Don’t just be against it — give us alternatives. This is important; everyone cares about property rights. Show up the meeting, get informed.”
For a detailed list of proposed zoning changes, see additional information on page 18.
