Michael Barnes of LEMB Co. LLC wants to build the development on a 200-acre piece of ground locals call the Sousa Ranch - just upstream from the confluence of Rock Creek and the Clark Fork River.
Heavy earth-moving machinery has already been working to excavate a 5-acre pond and build a new road across a hay meadow.
They can hardly believe their eyes.
“I don't understand how people can do that kind of work without getting some kind of permission,” Kat Martin said. “We've been talking with the county and so far, he's not even really started the subdivision process.”
“Nothing has been submitted to the county so far,” confirmed Mirtha Becerra, an associate planner with the Missoula Office of Planning and Grants on Wednesday. “There are a number of steps that need to be followed before that can happen Š everything so far is very preliminary.”
Representatives for the developer will unveil his proposal to anyone interested Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Rock Creek Lodge.
A copy of the preliminary layout of Barnes' development - called “The Ranch on Rock Creek” - has been circulating around the community, as has a petition seeking to stop it.
On Tuesday, a pair of fishermen stopped at Doug Persico's fly shop just down the road from the busy work site to add their names to the petition.
“We've already gathered 120 signatures and we've only been at it for a week,” Persico said. “The only person that I've had in here that refused was another developer.
“Most people who come in here are fly fishermen. I don't know a single fly fisherman anywhere who wouldn't sign it. All we have to do to sell them on the idea is to say that between here and the river, there will be 36 homes.
“The confluence of two magnificent trout streams is not the place for a 36-lot subdivision,” Persico said.
So far, the neighbors say the developer hasn't done much to win their trust.
Initial reports indicated he planned to do a small-scale development on the property - something to the tune of five or six homes scattered up in the trees.
“Michael Barnes, through his broker Katie Ward, assured us that there would be no development except for four or five homes near the tree line,” Jan Sousa said. Mike and Jan Sousa sold the property to Barnes five years ago.
The Martins said they heard the same story directly from the developer.
“He sat right here at the bar with us and told us there would only be five or six homes,” Kat Martin said. “We weren't in love with the idea, but he said they'd be in the trees and we wouldn't even know they were there.”
“Six homes sure isn't the same as 36,” she said.
“The guy is basically going to moon everybody that drives by with 13 backyards right up against the fence,” Larry Martin said. “Everything he does seems to be right in somebody's face.”
Persico said just about everything Barnes has done so far has been kept in secret. “He hasn't really been open so far about anything. The people working for him are all from out of state.”
The Missoulian attempted to contact Barnes through his consultant, Paul Druyvestein of DJ&A Consulting in Missoula. Druyvestein said Wednesday Barnes was contacted and his public relations firm would be in touch with the newspaper. No one called the Missoulian.
Druyvestein said Barnes would not attend Thursday's meeting.
Barnes did walk some neighbors through the project earlier this year. Sharene Menson took the tour. She was struck by Barnes' frank talk about the project.
“At that original meeting, he said that no matter what the public's input was, there would be a subdivision there,” Menson said. “It was very clear that he felt it was a done deal.”
Menson's husband, John, is president of the Rock Creek Protective Association, a group that represents 100 private property owners in the Rock Creek drainage. In April, the association sent a letter to Druyvestein outlining their concerns about the project.
“This proposed development is located directly at the confluence of Rock Creek and the Clark Fork on land that has historically provided a scenic and inviting entrance to a valley that is treasured both by its residents and the thousands of visitors who come again and again to enjoy the recreational opportunities that Rock Creek has provided for generations,” Menson's letter read.
“These visitors make a substantial contribution to the overall economy of the local area as well as to Missoula County.”
While the board values property rights, Menson said, the proposed relatively high density subdivision negatively affects the neighbors and health of the valley.
The board asked for a thorough review that would include public comment, a study of the impacts of septic systems and wells, flood potential of the property, an archaeological study and the economic impact of changing the entrance into the valley.
Becerra said the county review process will take a comprehensive look at the subdivision proposal. It will include public hearings and an opportunity for other agencies to review and comment on the proposal.
“At this point, they're not even close to submitting their proposal,” Becerra said. “They still need a few approvals and permits.”
The county is aware that work is occurring on the property, she said.
“That's a risk he's taking,” Becerra said. “Since nothing is submitted, right now it's just a private property owner doing things on his property Š it's not something that we can regulate.”
There's also no guarantee those improvements will be part of the final plan approved for the site, she said.
In the end, the residents of Rock Creek hope the development will change into something more fitting to the area.
“Rock Creek has a character about it,” Persico said. “It's a place that leaves a mark on you. We'd all just hate to see that changed.”
Reporter Perry Backus can be reached at 523-5259 or at pbackus@missoulian.com
See the plans
Representatives for developer Michael Barnes will unveil his proposal to build a 36-lot subdivision just upstream from the confluence of Rock Creek and the Clark Fork River at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Rock Creek Lodge. The event is open to the public.
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