T
he Flathead County Planning Board has tabled a proposal for the 359-unit private golf club project, known as the "Flathead Lake Club," until next month. The decision was made due to new information that had not been reviewed and complications surrounding water rights, which the developer does not currently have.

    The proposed development would include single-family homes on 1,700 acres west of U.S. Highway 93 in Lakeside, with amenities such as restaurants, clubhouses, a spa, fitness areas, offices, retail stores, and maintenance facilities. The applicants claim that only 20% of the acreage would be developed while 80% would remain open space.

    The project area has been planned for development since 2007, but previous plans were never materialized. The current proposal complies with the neighborhood plan and follows an "acceptable density." However, some organizations have expressed concerns about the impact on wildlife habitat, water quality, wildfire risk, and traffic congestion.

    Developers have addressed some of these concerns by proposing a wildfire mitigation plan, an onsite 24/7 fire and EMT substation, and upgrading the Lakeside Water and Sewer District's facility to meet the demand. However, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and Citizens for a Better Flathead have sued the Montana Department of Environmental Quality over the wastewater discharge permit.

    Despite opposition from some residents, developers argue that the project would generate significant tax revenue, create jobs, and provide capital improvement benefits such as highway upgrades. They also claim that the school district would receive millions of additional dollars in funding without increasing the student population.

    The proposal will be revisited at the next planning board meeting on August 13.