Denton's Point zoning district put on hold

By Erin Nicholes - 09/07/2008

ANACONDA — While an effort to get zoning rules in place at Georgetown Lake is moving forward, activity in an existing zoning district is at a standstill.

"The Denton's Point zoning district has been put on hold at this time," Linda Bouck, Granite County Planner, said at a recent meeting.

The 52-acre district was formed in 2007 in reaction to the contro-versial Lakeside at Georgetown development, which was approved last fall. The district, in the end, did not influence the subdivision because of the timing and intent of its formation.

In the meantime, adopting zoning regulations for the district has proved difficult because its lots are small and oddly configured, Bouck said.

And, few mechanisms exist for dissolving the district now that it's formed.

From this point on, the district will likely adopt any zoning regulations put in place for the rest of lake property in Granite County, Bouck said.

The Georgetown Lake Homeowners' Association is leading an effort to persuade Granite County to institute zoning at the lake. And the Granite County Commission is considering creating an emergency zoning district at the lake that would put some zoning rules in place for up to two years while long-term regulations are hammered out.

Any regulations applied to the Granite County side of the lake would be mirrored by the Denton's Point district, she said.

The Deer Lodge-Granite county line divides the lake; the former has zoning, the latter does not. Proponents of zoning at the lake have said it is needed to protect the area's environment and water quality.

Reporter Erin Nicholes may be reached at erin.nicholes@lee.net.