Lakeside plan unaffected by Stradler's retirement

The status of the Lakeside Plan will be unaffected by the retirement of Judge Stewart Stradler. Implementation of the Lakeside Plan has been prevented since Feb. 2011 when Stadler placed it under preliminary injunction following the 2008 lawsuit where all but two accusations are closed.

Stradler announced his retirement as Department 3 judge and will not be running for office in the upcoming election. Stradler's retirement has no major impact on the Lakeside Plan or its status of preliminary injunction, according to District Court Administrator Bonnie Olson.

Olson also reported that Judge David Ortley is hearing the case, but any details beyond that are to remain private as the Lakeside Plan is still a pending case.

“It transitions with any elected official, he or she would just have to get up to speed,” Olson said.

The Flathead County Commissioners adopted the neighborhood plan on Dec. 1, 2011 as an addendum to the Flathead County growth policy but no action has been taken due to the injunction.

Lakeside Community Council's hands are tied until then, their meetings have been “short and procedural” according to LCC Secretary Barb Miller.

Once the injunction is lifted, the council may begin making plans to take action with the Lakeside Plan by forming subcommittees, as the remaining portions of the 2008 lawsuit do not inhibit implementation of the plan.

“All the statistics are from 2007, so considerations are different now due to the economic downturn,” Miller said. “Because it's slowed down, it's a great time to implement the plan.”

For more details and history about the Lakeside Plan, visit lakesideplan2008.com.