Located just outside Glacier National Park in northwest Montana is the town of Whitefish. Originally a railroad and logging community, Whitefish has become a resort destination in recent years thanks to its scenic surroundings. The town has experienced a tourism boom, including an influx of celebrities and wealthy individuals who have built lavish vacation homes and have significantly changed the community’s demographics and economy. In May 2003, motivated by this growth and development interest, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) initiated a Neighborhood Planning Process on 13,000 acres of trust lands in the immediate vicinity of Whitefish. The Neighborhood Plan was to guide the potential conversion of trust land parcels from timber production to non-traditional uses including real estate development.

The planning process initially solicited community input through facilitated public meetings and small breakout groups. This approach upset the Whitefish community, which felt detached from DNRC decision making. To become more involved, community members petitioned the State Board of Land Commissioners to charter a stakeholder group to work collaboratively with the DNRC. The result was a 12-member Advisory Committee.

Over the course of a year, the Advisory Committee faced a variety of challenges including the public’s unfamiliarity with state trust lands, mixed messages from the DNRC and problematic facilitation. According to one participant, “while [the facilitator’s] intentions may have been good, she was hamstrung from the beginning because she was hired by [the DNRC], who wasn’t trusted.” Without a neutral facilitator, the Advisory Committee struggled to develop ground rules, build a common understanding about key issues and clarify what interests were being represented.

Despite these challenges, the Advisory Committee developed a plan that met the obligations to the trust and the community’s interests. Factors that contributed to this success included having the Mayor of Whitefish and the Flathead County Commissioner determine the Advisory Committee membership, legitimizing the process for the community because their elected officials determined who would develop the Neighborhood Plan. Local involvement also helped build trust between the community and DNRC.

In late 2004, the State Board of Land Commissioners, town of Whitefish and Flathead County approved the Whitefish Area Neighborhood Plan. While the Neighborhood Plan is not a regulatory document, it will become a key part of future growth policies in the area.