Proposed RV park near Bull Lake earns preliminary approval

A planned RV park located just north of Bull Lake earned preliminary approval from the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners earlier this month.

The park, when finished, will feature 20 RV spots and four dry tent sites, according to Jake Mertes, county planner. The 5.3-acre site on state Highway 56, about 13 miles south of Troy, was previously considered residential.

Mertes told commissioners that the project will require two septic systems. The Troy-based owners will abandon the existing well in favor of building a new one. Mertes said he expected that the existing well was built before current standards and starting from scratch is more cost-effective than upgrading.

“It has nothing to do with water quality or anything like that,” he said.

The park will include a single, centralized solid waste collection point.

Mertes said he saw few potential burdens on county services from the project, when complete. He foresaw only possible fire risk and noxious weed mitigation. Officials with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks had requested park management stress living with wildlife guidelines to minimize conflicts, Mertes said.

County planning staff proposed placing 18 conditions on the project, though none were out of the ordinary, Mertes said. The county planning board previously recommended approval of the project.

“Recreational vehicle parks have been constructed in similar areas in the county, near the lakes, and the Lincoln County growth policy encourages growth near existing facilities while maintaining a rural character. This would adhere to that policy,” Mertes said. “The Halfway House is down there; there are plenty of services. It’s an excellent place for a project of this nature.”

County Commissioner Josh Letcher (D-3) made the motion to grant the project preliminary approval. County Commissioner Jerry Bennett (D-2) offered a second. The final vote was unanimous.