After almost two years of meetings, surveys and writing, the Bigfork Steering Committee has released its new draft Bigfork Neighborhood Plan. The 100-page document is a set of comprehensive goals and strategies to guide the Bigfork Planning Area (BPA), a 39-square-mile section that has undergone dramatic change since the last draft plan was instituted in 1993. This plan, if adopted, will update and replace the previous plan. Subcommittees each focused on a specific section of the new plan, which highlights the Bigfork Vision, Population and Economics, Housing, Downtown and the Highway 35 Corridor, Land Use and Natural Resources, Local and Social Services, Transportation and Public Facilities.
Overall growth policy, to which each section is inherently linked, is by far the most pressing concern for residents who took part in the survey. The responses to survey questions may pose quite a hurdle for the BSC's goals for growth, which are:
1. Marshal and integrate diverse resources to develop and improve our community infrastructure.2. Utilize the talents, energy, creativity and experience that exist within the community to work toward agreed-upon goals. 3. Identify and capitalize on the unique attributes of the area.4. Create an amenity oasis that provides and attracts desired services while complementing the natural surroundings. 5. Encourage sustainable enterprises based on renewable resources and protect those resources for the long term.6. Expand contacts and collaboration throughout the region, state and nation.7. Promote quality development and protection of natural surroundings at all economic levels. The problems will likely arise due to the fact that when it comes to Bigfork, many respondents seem to prefer style over substance. For instance, in a survey rating the importance of community characteristics, New Housing and Economic Development scored lower than bike paths. Those characteristics with the highest ratings related to keeping Bigfork's small-town appeal. Aesthetics consistently ranked higher than almost any other characteristic.The draft, however, states that "survey results cannot be characterized as anti-growth. Indeed, by their responses, it is apparent that participants embrace growth as long as it is done in a manner that preserves the character of the Bigfork area ..."Economic development is a priority in the BSC's plan, as younger working families are being priced out of the area. The median price for a home in the BPA in the last five years has jumped from $172,000 to $298,000, and with it increased property taxes. Creating viable incomes and adequate, affordable housing is a difficult task due to the area's reliance on tourism and numerous part-time residents. Employment opportunities can be seasonal, and businesses and employees alike are dependent on vacationers and the weather. One of the BSC's stated goals for housing is to encourage the development of affordable housing and special needs housing opportunities. However, the survey results again prove a bit tricky. Those who responded to the survey discouraged single-family housing on smaller lots with higher density. Rather, they wanted single-family housing to be placed on parcels of land greater than five acres and spread out. The draft also shows that Bigfork's population of people older than 65 is 28 percent - more than double the national average. And the largest segment of the population (43 percent) is more than 45 years old. Another indicator that the BPA's population is aging is that 34 percent of the population receives Social Security, and 26 percent receives other retirement income. In a survey about housing, senior housing and assisted living were the two highest-rated types of needs by respondents. Other interesting findings by the draft include the types of businesses that have moved into the downtown area in the last 13 years. The number of real estate offices have more than doubled, but so have the art galleries. In fact, The Village's growth has been very proportionate in its diversity. One of the draft's goal statements deals specifically with the downtown area: "The Bigfork Land Use Advisory Committee and the BSC will strive to work with Flathead County, the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork, the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce, other local organizations and individuals to maintain the village atmosphere of downtown Bigfork and support commercial development in appropriate areas."Many more topics, goals and policies are stated in the draft, which is available at the library or online at www.bigforksteering.org. A public meeting will be held XXXXX.
