Comments on: Twilight Zoning
By citizenMT on 08-21-10
First of all, I have been told that the county has never used COUNTY-INITIATED zoning. All the zoning districts are CITIZEN-INITIATED - and obviously have been able to gain the 60% support needed. If anyone disagrees with this, they had better be able to name one or more zoning districts that were initiated/forced by the county.Second of all, AMD is waving the flag and spouting propaganda that they want to protect your property rights. Really??? What they want is the ability to develop anything anywhere they choose without regard to community, neighbors, or YOUR PROPERTY RIGHTS AND PROPERTY VALUES.
So if you sign the petition, you’d best understand what you are giving up. And if AMD somehow manages to get this on the 2012 ballot, and you vote to repeal the growth policy, you are willingly giving away your freedom to influence what gets built next to you - but you may rest assured that AMD and its secret unnamed members and associates sure have plans for land near you. This is all about having no rules and nothing about protecting your property rights. WAKE UP, PEOPLE!
By RussCrowder on 08-22-10
Unfortunately for citizenMT the “I have been told” thing does not equal doing his homework. It would be helpfull if anyone with an interest in the subject would take the time to study the state’s zoning statutes, particularly the difference between citizen initiated zoning (Type 1), and county commissioner initiated zoning (Type 2). The challenge was made that we had better be prepared to “name one or more zoning districts that were initiated/forced by the county,” in other words, adopted under Type 2 zoning. That is easy: ALL OF THEM ! While there is a possibility that just three of the county’s present zoning districts (this does not include West Valley) may have qualified as Type 1 citizen initiated zoning, none of those three were actually adopted to qualify with the state requirements to do so through that designation. Therefore, even those three districts are county commission initiated (Type 2) under state law.
One other thing that should be clarified because the public is going to be consantly bombarded by citMT and other anti-property rights individuals and groups, is the shrill cry that if county property owners do chose to take their property rights back by repealing the county Growth Policy, “the sky is going to fall.” Here is a reality check. If the voters vote out the county’s present Growth Policy, the most significant change will be the power the county commission can wield over property owners. For instance, today it only takes a vote of TWO county commissioners to impose zoning and new zoning regulations on property owners. This is the power the county has because it voluntarily chose to adopt a County Growth Policy. That’s right, Growth Policy’s are voluntary and NOT REQUIRED by law. In fact, many counties in Montana don’t have them. Take away the Growth Policy and the county can still impose new zoning and zoning regulations, BUT ONLY WITH THE CONSENT OF 60% OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WILL BE IMPACTED !
So, don’t be fooled. those that oppose getting rid of the county Growth Policy aren’t concerned with protecting “Planning,” but preventing property owners from having the ability to protect themselves, their private property, and their private property rights from what has proved to be a heavy county bureaucratic hand often used against all three to promote “Political” not “Planning” agenda’s.
American Dream Montana is presently preparing a new web-site to explain this issue factually and in detail. When it is up and running we will let you know…Russ Crowder…Chairman, ADM
By RussCrowder on 08-23-10
Unfortunately, County Commissioner Joe Brenneman is the poster child for why we have allowed the county too much power to determine what we may or may not be allowed to do with our private property. The county’s taxpayers are going to be paying for this mistake long after he has left office, even if property owners are successfull with this effort.
By citizenMT on 08-23-10
wow… you guys really are a broken record. It will be fun seeing you just broken. Bye now.
By debbietant on 08-24-10
This same old bunch of winey property owners just can’t get over the fact that Joe Brenneman has their number. WHEN JOE IS RE-ELECTED, all the property owners in Flathead County will get whats coming to them !!!!!
By debbietant on 08-27-10
Joe Brenneman is going to be issued his walking papers in November, but they will be the papers he needs to walk all over the arrogant property owners in this county for the next 6 years that think they can continue to walk all over the rights of the community. The sick notion that people actually have a right to own property that belongs to all the people, exposes why property “owners” are about to go the way of the dinosaurs. Just as our President recognizes this, so does commissioner Brenneman and the other Democrats in Flathead County. POWER TO THE PEOPLE BEGINS WHEN PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE NONE !!!
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