Ravalli County commissioners to debate Legacy Ranch

Dennis Bragg photo(HAMILTON)- The hearings are about over. Now it's time for the Ravalli County commissioners to decide what to do with a controversial ranch proposal in the northern Bitterroot Valley. 

The owners of the Legacy Ranch are hoping to revive a project first proposed several years ago but shelved with the downturn in the housing market. They want the county's approval of the major subdivision to put over 600-homes on the 500-acre tract. 

But during hearings last week, most of the people at public hearings in Hamilton and Lone Rock blasted the project and its potential impact on the rural character in that section of the valley. A few speakers argued it was a good project that would provide more affordable housing. 

Monday morning commissioners are set to hear the rebuttal comments from the developers and then start debating what action to take on the proposal. 

Ravalli Planning Board recommends approval of Legacy Ranch

(HAMILTON)- After a marathon 6-hour session, the Ravalli Planning Board is recommending the county approve the controversial Legacy Ranch subdivision north of Stevensville. 

The project would squeeze hundreds of homes on a piece of land along the Eastside Highway in a proposal that's generated intense opposition from area residents. In fact, during hours of public testimony no speakers came forward to support the idea. 

Starting Wednesday afternoon, and continuing for hours Thursday evening, the planning board moved through page after page of details on the proposed project, finally voting for county commissioners to approve the subdivision. Only two members voted against the recommendation. 

In addition to conditions suggested by planning staff, the board added roughly half-a-dozen more requirements. Those include a stipulation requiring testing for impacts such as wastewater contamination and wildlife after each phase of the 30-plus year project is completed. 

Ravalli County commissioners are ready to start their consideration of the project next week with a tour of the property Monday and a public hearing scheduled for most of the day next Thursday. 

Ravalli planning board to debate controversial subdivision

(HAMILTON)- After spending more than 8-hours listening to often heated opposition, the Ravalli County Planning Board is set to decide this week what happens to a controversial subdivision north of Stevensville.

The Legacy Ranch subdivision would place as many as 500 homes on a 400 hundred acre tract north of Stevensville in the coming decades. 

The project has ignited a firestorm of controversy and Wednesday the planning board is scheduled to decide what to do with Legacy Ranch, and what recommendation to pass along to Ravalli County commissioners. 

Ravalli County extends fight over Forest Service water claim

(HAMILTON)- Ravalli County commissioners lose the first round in their fight against the U.S. Forest Service claiming water flowing from the Bitterroot Mountains. But the county isn't giving up.

The county is upset with the Forest Service applying for junior water rights on Bitterroot streams. The Montana DNRC says the county doesn't have "standing" to object, but the county has sent another letter arguing that it does. 

In the letter, Ravalli County argues that Bitterroot National Forest has used a flawed methodology to calculate the water right claim, and just wants to block future access to water, especially on Blodgett Creek outside Hamilton. 

Ravalli County will fight Forest Service water rights

(HAMILTON)- Ravalli County commissioners will file an objection to the U.S. Forest Service seeking water rights on Blodgett Creek.

Bitterroot National Forest already has water rights on some Bitterroot streams. It's the move to secure a junior water right on Blodgett Creek that's erupted into the latest management conflict. The Forest Service says the water right, allowed under a 2007 compact with the state, protects fish habitat and would be a "non-consumptive use" without interfering with older water rights for farms and ranches. 

County commissioners are not only suspicious of the reasons for the application, but critical of the methodology used to calculate the water right, the so-called "wet perimeter" formula measuring water in the streambed and the adjacent banks.

Although some speakers at a meeting this past week were equally critical of the water right application, others defended the Forest Service's action and scolded commissioners for fighting the with the federal land managers instead of supporting fish habitat protection.