Three Forks City Council Meeting
Author: Eliza McLaughlin - Staff Reporter
Three Forks City Council Meeting Eliza McLaughlin - Staff Reporter Three Forks City Council members approved an application for a work-live development at the Three Forks Market RV Campground Expansion during its Feb. 14 meeting, weeks after approving previous amendments to the site’s permit.
The application proposed a single-bedroom year-round rental apartment on the second level of the campground’s service building, which was previously designated for campground and storage use only. The proposal also included improvements to the existing service building.
Although recent zoning changes allow for this type of conditional-use permit, several members of the public spoke up and requested the council deny the application because the owners, Rick and Valerie Lamb, had already built it.
“Much of the apartment has already been built,” reads the application. The application went on to explain that the “proposed development” would allow the Lambs to finish the apartment as well as to add a stairway entry and a water meter to the mechanical room for the apartment.
Members of the public cautioned city council members that approval of the application would set a precedent for other zoning applications.
“If approved, we would be ignoring the conditions set forth for the use of this service building.” Wrote Diane Fuhrman in a letter of public comment. Fuhrman’s letter also voiced concern that the applicants had repeatedly said the service building would not be rented out. “This has been stated several times over the past two years yet now the applicant wants a rental apartment.”
Another letter written to the council, this time by Tom Vander Vos, pointed out that the case made Three Forks’ zoning “just a suggestion.” David and LaVonne Brooks also wrote a letter asking the council to deny the application.
A representative for the Lambs said that the applicants had not violated the conditions originally set by the Planning and Zoning Board and pointed out that the applicants have the right to request amendments.
Randy Carpenter, the City of Three Forks’ planning consultant, recommended the approval of the application with several conditions. These conditions include installing of a water shut-off valve, requiring the apartment to follow the campground's quiet hours and filing a deed restriction to prevent the property from being divided or subdivided.
Carpenter also suggested that the applicant pay impact fees for the apartment and that the applicant pave and designate the two parking spaces for the apartment.
The Lamb’s representative requested that the apartment be exempt from needing paved parking spaces.
The approved apartment was previously listed on an amendment submitted by the Lambs in January; however, the applicants requested that they omit it until now.
Councilman Gene Townsend requested that in the future, the Lambs handle things “up front” and all at once to save both parties money and time before motioning to approve the application with all of Carpenter’s suggested conditions.
The application was approved unanimously.
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PhotoCredit: Eliza McLaughlin - Staff Reporter
Image 1 Caption: Carpenter building awning on new building Three Forks Market RV Park and Campground
