Flathead County has approved a new site for the proposed Intermountain therapeutic children’s home, moving it further from a nearby protected wildfowl area and agreeing to request federal funds to help pay for the project.
The county commission unanimously approved the new proposed project last week. As part of that approval, the county agreed to ask the state Department of Commerce to release $450,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding to help pay for the design and construction of the Intermountain Providence Home.
By moving the building 325 feet away from the neighboring Wildfowl Protection Area in Somers, the project will have no “significant impact on the environment,” the commission decided.
The original plans had the building about 150 feet from the border of the protected land, which caused some consternation in public comment.
By approving the project, Flathead County has started a public comment period that will end on June 9. All interested agencies, groups and persons disagreeing with this decision are invited to submit written comments for consideration by the Flathead County Board of Commissioners, 800 South Main Street, Room 302, Kalispell, 59901.
The commission will not take further action on the project before June 16.