Flathead Lake Club (Discovery Land Company) Makes Lakeshore Variance Request to develop private Marina - Meeting 2/3/2026 at 8:45am
Public Concern: Discovery Land Lakeside Marina Variance Request
Meeting: Flathead County Commissioners
Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Time: 8:45 AM
Agenda Item: Item F – Consideration of Lakeshore Variance Permit
Application: Flathead Lake Land Partners – #FLV-25-09
Location: 688 Lakeside Blvd, Lakeside, MT
What Is Being Requested?
The applicant is seeking a Lakeshore Variance to extend a dock 159 feet from shore, despite Flathead County regulations limiting docks to 100 feet.
The variance is described as a request for a “public marina”
However, the dock appears to serve a private, exclusive Discovery Land development
The proposal would allow a 59% increase over the maximum dock length allowed by law
Major Areas of Concern
1. Possible Violations Before Approval
Photos taken on-site show steel pilings and construction materials staged within the Lakeshore Protection Zone before the variance hearing.
Flathead County regulations explicitly prohibit:
“Temporary stockpiling of materials in the Lakeshore Protection Zone.”
This raises serious questions:
Has the applicant already violated lakeshore regulations?
Was the County aware of this activity?
How can a variance be approved if the applicant is already out of compliance?
These photos were taken by a Flathead Lakers Board Member on the morning of February 2, 2026 at the proposed marina site at 688 Lakeshore Blvd. Lakeshore, MT. It clearly shows materials needed to construct the docks and piers of the proposed marina being stockpiled in the Lakeshore Protection zone before the variance request hearing for the project has even taken place on February 3, 2026.
2. “Public Marina” or Private Club Dock?
While the proposed marina included some boat slips marked public, Discovery Land Company developments are widely known to operate as private, members-only facilities.
Key unanswered questions:
Will the marina be open to the general public without membership requirements?
Will access be unrestricted, affordable, and enforced long-term?
If the dock is effectively private, does it even qualify under public marina standards?
This distinction matters legally and materially affects whether the variance is appropriate.
3. Hardship Is Not Unique or Unavoidable
The applicant claims the variance is necessary due to shallow lakebed conditions.
However:
Shallow shorelines are common around Flathead Lake
These conditions were known or should have been known before purchase
Designing an oversized marina and then claiming hardship is a self-created problem
Variances are intended for exceptional circumstances — not to accommodate overly intensive design choices.
4. No Analysis of Cumulative Impacts
The County’s staff report evaluates this project in isolation, ignoring:
Increasing marina density in Lakeside
Cumulative boat traffic
Fuel, oil, and wake impacts
Long-term water quality degradation
Flathead Lake is an Outstanding Resource Water, yet the proposal lacks meaningful cumulative impact analysis.
5. Marina Located Near a Creek Outlet
Maps show the marina is located adjacent to a significant creek outlet into Flathead Lake.
Creek mouths are:
Critical fish habitat
Sensitive to prop wash and sediment disturbance
Pathways for nutrient and pollutant transport
Despite this, the application includes:
No fisheries assessment
No analysis of impacts on native fish
No discussion of increased boat activity near the creek plume
6. Dangerous Precedent
Approving a dock nearly 60% longer than allowed sets a precedent that:
Dock length limits are optional for large developers
Wealthy applicants can bypass protections
Overwater development will continue to expand lakewide
This undermines the purpose of Flathead County’s Lakeshore Protection Regulations.
7. Visual and Navigational Impacts Are Minimized
The proposed marina footprint is large and highly visible, extending well beyond neighboring docks.
Yet the staff report claims:
No scenic impact
No navigation conflicts
No public nuisance
These conclusions are unsupported by meaningful visual or navigational analysis and contradict what is visible in site photos and maps.
What We Are Asking the County to Do
We urge the Flathead County Commissioners to:
Delay or deny the variance due to premature material staging
Require proof that the marina will be truly public
Require a fisheries and creek impact assessment
Address potential regulatory violations before approval
Evaluate cumulative impacts, not just this single dock
Take Action
Attend the meeting: February 3, 2026 at 8:45 AM
Submit public comment to the Flathead County Commissioners
Share this information with neighbors, media, and local organizations
Flathead Lake belongs to all Montanans. Decisions made now will shape its health, access, and character for generations.