Blanchard Lake setbacks not fair

Although I was unable to attend the Whitefish Critical Areas Ordinance hearing on Sept. 20, I do have a suggestion which I would like to present to the public.

I live on the west side of Blanchard Lake in an area that would not be considered "wetlands."

At the question-and-answer meeting last week, it was pointed out that people living on Whitefish Lake were not subject to the proposed 75-foot buffer zone, nor the 25-foot setback designated for the rest of us.

They would continue to be subject to the old 20-foot buffer and 10-foot setback rules, but in accordance with Section 4 Paragraph 5 would be subject to "a water quality protection plan developed by a qualified professional, which shall make recommendations regarding storm water management, impervious surface, grading and filling, and vegetation protection and restoration so that the estimated discharge of sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants to the lake during and after construction would be no greater than if the site had a seventy-five (75) foot buffer, using a methodology approved be the Director of Public Works."

In my particular case, as in most others, this means loosing control of more than 70 feet of my front yard.

The fact that my property only fell under Whitefish jurisdiction two years ago does not make this inequity any easier to swallow.

My suggestion is that those of us who would be subject to the proposed new 75-foot buffer and 25-foot setback be given the option of submitting to the same alternative regulations (those for Whitefish Lake) and thereby remaining subject only to the present 20-foot buffer.

Jim King

Whitefish