POLSON – The Montana Supreme Court has ruled that Polson officials acted properly when they rezoned land at the foot of Flathead Lake to accommodate a Wal-Mart Supercenter.
Tuesday’s unanimous decision comes a full four years after Wal-Mart began work on the project.
In 2005, Wal-Mart bought 28 acres south of Polson on the east side of U.S. Highway 93. The land was zoned for low-density residential use, but the company wanted that changed to allow “highway commercial” status. The local planning board opposed the change, but Polson City Council members approved the rezoning in 2006.
A local group called Lake County First sued the City Council, claiming the zoning change was illegal because officials ignored city and county growth policies.
Both sides eventually asked a district court to decide, and Wal-Mart prevailed. The case was then appealed to the Montana Supreme Court.
Representatives from Wal-Mart and from Lake County First were unavailable for comment late Thursday.