The Gallatin County Commission (Montana) will consider the possibility of reducing a list of appeals against a controversial glamping resort on Tuesday.
As per a report, the Riverbend Glamping Getaway has been under intense scrutiny by environmental groups and locals alike. The appeals seek to contest the decision to approve a floodplain permit granted by the county in November.
The proposed development is located on an island with a high risk of flooding west of Mill Street Bridge in Gallatin Gateway.
Floodplain Administrator Sean O’Callaghan wrote in documents filed before the Gallatin County Commission that the parties that submitted appeals, Dick Shockley, Peter Stein, Protect the Gallatin, a joint submission from American Rivers, Madison-Gallatin Trout Unlimited, and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, could not agree on which appeal documents constituted the appeal record.
In the joint application, as an instance, it requested that seasonal be applied to the permit. Some restrictions would include removing structures and disconnecting utilities during flood season.
Lawyers representing the glamping resort’s developers, Brian Gallik and Matthew Williams, opposed the appeals in a brief to the county.
They also noted that a few of the parties presented evidence and other information in their appeals which were not included in the administrative record that O’Callaghan used to eventually approve the floodplain permit project last year.
The developers’ lawyers also claimed that no appeals had been filed within the floodplain regulations’ timeframe of 30 days following O’Callaghan’s ruling. They argued that those who filed appeals to the floodplain permit waived their opportunity to complain.
The county has also granted other permits for the project. O’Callaghan granted a permit that will allow developers to install sewer force main and fiber optic cables underneath the Gallatin River in the last year.
The utility company NorthWestern Energy was granted permission to construct natural gas pipeline under the Gallatin River. The natural gas pipeline’s capacity would be utilized for resorts.
People can send suggestions at Gallatin County Commission before the meeting or attend Tuesday’s meeting, starting at 9:00 a.m. in the Gallatin County Courthouse.
This story originally appeared on Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
It’s important to note that concerns have been raised about the potential impact of the glamping development on the surrounding natural habitat and wildlife. Furthermore, the ongoing dispute highlights the need for transparent and inclusive decision-making processes when it comes to land use and development in environmentally sensitive areas. This situation emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the environmental impact of such projects and involving all stakeholders in the decision-making process.
It’s important to consider the economic potential alongside environmental concerns as the County Commission reviews the appeals.
Have you heard about the latest on the glamping development in Gallatin County? Seems like there’s a lot of buzz about the floodplain permit appeals and the concerns over building sewer mains and a natural gas pipeline under the Gallatin River. What’s your take on how this might impact the environment and community?
The Riverbend Glamping Getaway is stirring up quite the chatter in the community. Let’s bring our A-game to the appeals process for a fair evaluation of the permit.