A decade in review

Special to the West Shore News

Last month, The West Shore News asked local residents to reflect on two questions about the past and future of the area as the decade finished out. Over the next few weeks, we'll share what they had to say.

Steve Rosso, president of the Lakeside QRU

(1) What have been the two or three most significant changes or events in the West Shore area in the past 10 years?

Land Development Issues – Almost 4-square miles of land to become a single development, originally called Eagle's Crest, of about 1000 home sites, a golf course, and an airstrip made news early in the past decade.

This started a series of events beginning with a proposal for a huge marina that some saw as an economic opportunity and others saw as an assault on neighboring property, the health of Flathead Lake, and the established way of life in Lakeside.

Disagreements over this development continue with controversy over Land Use Designation in the update of the Lakeside Neighborhood Plan.

Land development issues have both inspired residents to become involved in land use planning for the future and polarized the community into groups that support planning and others that feel planning will too severely limit their property rights.

Blacktail Mountain Ski Area – Although Blacktail Mountain Ski Area opened in the 1998-1999 winter season, it grew into an economic driver for the West Shore communities during the past decade.

Many of our business depend on visitors to the area for profit. Being successful depended on two or three months every summer. Today the ski area brings visitors from Kalispell, Polson, Bigfork and around the state, nation and world to the West Shore for three or four winter months. Along with the ski area, we have seen the establishment of a brewery, restaurants, growth in other businesses and an annual celebration named Winterfest.

These businesses and Blacktail Mountain Ski Area have brought hundreds of winter jobs and economic benefits to the West Shore.

(2) Ten years from now, what will the West Shore look like? What are your hopes for the next 10 years?

National and world events and conditions strongly influence our lives even on the West Shore of Flathead Lake. Recovery from the economic downturn will make growth and development slow in the beginning of the next 10 years. Energy costs and their affect on transportation will change lifestyles especially in satellite communities and tourist-based economies.

I predict the West Shore will see growth in non-motor dependent recreation opportunities like hiking, biking, sailing, fishing, cross-country skiing and associated infrastructure and businesses.

Local businesses that reduce the necessity to travel into Kalispell for work or to shop will also grow.

Travel costs and a slow economic recovery will limit second and third home ownership to an elite few and a higher percentage of West Shore residents will become year-around creating a closer, friendlier community (if that's possible in this already wonderfully friendly place we live now).

Read more responses in next week's West Shore News.

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Want to give your two cents on these questions? E-mail editor@westshorenewsonline.com.