Planning Board rejects developer's plans to build timeshare cabins

By NICK GEVOCK, Chronicle Staff Writer

The Gallatin County Planning Board Tuesday rejected a developer's plan to build 65 timeshare cabins as part of an upscale golf project near Gallatin Gateway.

The board voted 6-1 to deny a small subdivision on the Montana Ranch, formerly called the Day Ranch.

The board told developer Craig Bryant it couldn't decide on the project until the state determines whether to grant permits to supply water for the golf course, 65 cabins and a clubhouse on the 2,800-acre property, member Steve Forrest said.

"Water was pretty key," Forrest said Wednesday. "The majority of the board felt that we're getting the cart before the horse here."

Board members Forrest, Joe Skinner, John Watts, Joe Mangiantini, Gene Krebsbach and Jason Kimm voted against the subdivision. Michael Milmine voted for it.

Under state law, Bryant can build any number of cabins to rent. But in order to build cabins to sell, he needs approval for a subdivision.

He still plans to bring the subdivision to county commissioners, but if they reject it, he said the cabins will be built as rentals.

"It's just a question of whether we can (sell) those," Bryant said of the cabins.

Debate over water to supply the project has been ongoing for nearly two years.

Bryant has applied to the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation for permission to pump up to 920 gallons a minute.

But his own pump tests show the wells would draw down nearby Fish Creek, illegally taking from senior water rights.

DNRC rejected the permits in July 2001, but Bryant reapplied and offered to give up surface water rights to make up the lost water. The applications have drawn 53 protesters, including environmentalists, anglers and ditch companies.

State officials have twice moved the well applications ahead of others after Bryant wrote Gov. Judy Martz asking her to fast-track the applications. A hearing on those permits is scheduled for July 8-10.

In addition to the water issue, County Planning Director Jennifer Madgic said a golf development in such a rural area could cause increased traffic and other problems for nearby farms,

Many of these same problems arose in June 2001, when the county rejected Bryant's original proposal for 114 homes. He sued the county for $11 million, a case that is still in court.

Since then, Bryant has pushed forward with a backup plan and created 26 160-acre lots, which don't require any county review. Fourteen of those lots have already sold and Bryant said there are only 12 left.

"It won't be long before you see homes going up out there," he said.

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