Ravalli County avoided what could have been a multi-million dollar lawsuit on Monday by settling a development dispute out of court, giving developers the go-ahead on 11 stalled subdivisions, pending review and approval by county commissioners. The move could potentially create over 1,500 homes in one of the fastest growing regions in the state.
The lawsuit, filed by 14 developers in February, came after their requests to subdivide land languished in the Ravalli County Planning Office for months. It claimed the county missed deadlines for reviewing subdivision applications and asked the court to award damages and attorney fees.
The developers’ lawsuit was filed after subdivision requests got stalled in the Ravalli County Planning Department, and planners, faced with an onslaught of development requests, could not meet mounting demands, said Ravalli County Commissioner Greg Chilcott.
Legally, subdivision requests in Montana must be responded to within 70 days.
