A new 70-space RV park in Seeley Lake could be built after several years of planning and multiple applications.
David Stewart, represented by IMEG civil engineering (formally known as Territorial Landworks), requested to subdivide roughly 14 acres into three lots and create 70 parking spots. The project was first submitted in 2018, but by different owners according to Missoula County Planner Tim Worley and previous Pathfinder reporting.
Worley said the County rarely sees applications for an RV Park, as most parks in the region have been established for decades. In Montana, RV parks are considered subdivisions and must go through the complete process of subdivision planning to get approval.
After several years of site planning, the county will make a final decision in the next two weeks. First, there will be a Missoula Consolidated Planning Board meeting on July 25 at 6 p.m. the Missoula City Council Chambers.
There, board members can hear from the public and make a recommendation for the Missoula County Commissioners. The commissioners will hear the Planning Board’s recommendation Aug. 10 in the County Courthouse, get one more chance to hear from the public, and make the final decision.
Worley said in these situations, the proposals likely get implemented, as the lengthy application process smooths out any legal issues.
“If they are going to deny, they need substantial evidence,” Worley said. He specifically mentioned the term “unmitigated, adverse impact,” or a negative uncontrolled consequence, as the main reason a government would deny a new project.
The location sits unzoned between the One Stop gas station and the Seeley Community Medical Center. A couple homes in the Double Arrow Lodge area sit east of the site.
The first iteration of the park was called back after the Seeley Lake community did not decide to build a sewer system in 2021, which the original project banked on for septic. The new project has instead requested access to the Seeley Lake Water District, with its own septic for guests.
The sites will be accessed from Highway 83 through perimeter and internal roads, for which Missoula County granted variances to make them slightly smaller than required by the county.
The owners write in the application summary that the site is a good place to expand services in Seeley, as the site is unzoned and sits within the Seeley Wildland Urban Interface. The application also states the project would coincide with the 2010 Seeley Lake Regional Plan.
“Seeley Lake has become a tourist destination and many visitors pass through the area or spend time enjoying the recreation opportunities in the region,” the application said. “The proposed use of this property as an RV Park aligns well with the SLRP’s goal of focusing on tourism business development, as an RV park is proposed on the property.”
People can comment on the proposal by going to either meeting in person or on Zoom, emailing your comment to tworley@missoulacounty.us., Or mailing it to PDS, 200 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT, 59802.
People with questions can email tworley@missoulacounty.us
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