If approved by the Flathead County Commissioners, Discover Land Company, out of Arizona, will build the 4th members-only community in Montana. The Flathead Lake Club will be added to the Crazy Mountain Ranch in Shields Valley, the Iron Horse Gold Club in Whitefish and the Yellowstone Club in Big Sky.
The Flathead County Planning Commission, at their meeting Wednesday night, sent the matter to the Commissioners for final approval with a positive recommendation. That puts the project directly in the laps of the County Commissioners. There might not be much the Commissioners can do to stop the millionaire’s club from materializing. As it stands now, the application complies with the neighborhood plan.
As you might imagine, Lakeside residents aren’t happy with plans to build this members-only 1,700-acre resort-type subdivision near Blacktail Mountain. The plan for the Flathead Lake Club includes a golf course, restaurants, a spa and fitness center and 359 homes. They say they’ll execute their plan in 5-phases, the first for 59-residences and 7-commercial lots. Included is a private 36-boat marina.
Lakeside residents cite traffic congestion, straining water and sewer systems and stormwater run-off into Flathead Lake. All those issues will have to be taken up with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
It’s likely that, before the first shovel of dirt is turned, lawsuits and environmental issues will delay the project indefinitely.
