Play Stupid Games in MT, Get Stupid Prizes; Tear Down This House
Never underestimate the limits Montana will go to to protect Glacier National Park and our utter disdain for entitled out of staters. A California couple is about to learn the hard way.
Get The Latest On This Story Here 11/16/23
Back on February 8, The Daily Interlake reported on a home being built on the banks of McDonald Creek near Apgar. At the time, the Flathead County planning officials said there was nothing they could do about the home being constructed because there is no Federal Emergency Management Agency floodplain designation in the area, due to the floodplain never getting mapped. That left the agency helpless, they thought.
Around 17 people have filed a complaint against the property build saying it violates the Montana Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act, the 310 law.
On February 27th, the conservation board, the owners, and a Montana FWP biologist took a look at the home and concluded the stream bank been had been excavated in violation of the law. The house is being built about 20 feet from the creek on a bend in the creek that is eroding away.
They've been ordered to tear down the house by November 1, 2023
The owners of the rogue build are John and Stacy Ambler of San Diego, California. Turns out they never applied for the FREE permit needed, a 310 permit, to begin construction. However, to tear down the property, they're required to obtain a 310 permit for that, as well.
The lawyer for the couple asked for a delay so the couple could bring in an engineer to plead their case. It was denied since they were already in violation of the law for not applying for the 310 permit in the first place.
I'm sure we haven't heard the last from the Amblers. It's shockingly easy to find them on the internet. I was sure they'd be in hiding by now.
How did this even happen in a national park? Turns out this land is private property within the park boundary that has been grandfathered since before the park's creation. It's hard to find out how this worked back when Glacier Park was first opened.
I kind of hate to be this person, but this makes me extremely happy. It's another example of entitled out of staters thinking they can come into our NATIONAL PARK and just build a freaking SUMMER house on the banks of a creek with no regard for ANYONE or ANYTHING but themselves.
Millionaires take note. Play stupid entitled games in Montana, and it could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. We are straight up fed up with all of you.
Who thinks they're entitled to destroy a view like this?
I got information on this story from The Daily Interlake, Hungry Horse News and KPAX.
LOOK INSIDE: Glacier Bear Retreat, the Only Private Home in Glacier Park That Is For Sale
Gallery Credit: KC