Gov briefs (city)

City Planning

The Libby City Council approved three city variance recommendations from the Libby Planning Board for the Creek View Estates block subdivision, Monday at their regular meeting in Libby.

Lincoln County Planner Jake Mertes recommended denying the first variance of a 60-foot right-of-way with a 24-foot paved driving surface due to it being smaller than the “current standard” to help allow space for emergency response vehicles and to allow “ample pedestrian” walking areas.

Mertes suggested to instead approve a sidewalk on one side of the subdividion’s cul-de-sacs’ connections to each other along with a 28-foot driving surface and a 2-foot curb and gutter.

“There’s a reason that we adopted those regulations,” he said. With a sidewalk, children can both avoid the street and avoid walking on lot owner’s lawns.

The purpose behind these requirements is to provide ample pedestrian walking areas, which are off the street and safe, he said. Also, adding a sidewalk helps keep people off of landowners lawns, “which tends to be a problem.”

Council members voted to approve two cul-de-sac roads requiring that their must be pedestrian access to nearby parkland provided in the subdivision.

On the third variance, the Council voted to support a change in zoning to match previously recorded blocks of the subdivision.

City judge

The Libby City Council voted to open the municipal court judge position for job applications, Monday at their regular meeting in Libby.

Mayor Brent Teske said he spoke with Libby City Court Judge Lucille Briggs, and that she could not confirm or deny whether she is looking for reappointment and to open the application process.