Bitterrooters for Planning will present its legal argument in district court this week challenging Ravalli County’s decision to approve the largest residential subdivision in the county’s history.
Bitterrooters for Planning has sued Ravalli County Commissioners over the county’s approval of the Legacy Ranch subdivision, a 639-home development adjacent to the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge in Stevensville. The non-profit land use organization also has named Sunnyside Orchards, LLC as defendant in the lawsuit. The land developers and principals of Sunnyside Orchards LLC are Donald and Alexandra Morton.
In its lawsuit, BfP charges Ravalli County Commissioners with failure to adequately analyze the impacts the development would have on traffic, local schools, public safety, fish and wildlife, water and air quality, the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge and local agriculture.
“This massive development converts prime farmland and open space to dense residential development and portends significant impacts to public health and welfare that the Commissioners glossed over or ignored,” according to the lawsuit.
Despite public testimony alerting the commission to the lack of substantive analysis and the serious shortcomings in the review process, the commission failed to undertake any further analysis.
“Further, the developer foists significant unmitigated external costs on County taxpayers in terms of road improvements, school services, and fire and police protection without addressing consequences to County taxpayers,” according to the lawsuit.
The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, June 11 at 3 p.m. before District Judge James Haynes.
Bitterrooters for Planning is represented by Missoula land use attorney Jack Tuholske. Ravalli County is represented by Alan McCormick, an attorney with Garlington, Lohn and Robinson.