SUCCESS IS ACHIEVED

What We Did

  • In January of 2022, after learning that an application for a major subdivision, a 150 spot RV Park, was submitted to Madison County, the Raynolds Pass community began to write letters of real concern to the county and The Madisonian. Educated about the application process from lawyer Jecyn Bremer of Gallik & Bremer in Bozeman, we engaged seasoned professionals, an environmental engineer, a hydrologist, a pro bono Senior Traffic Engineer, and a PHD Wildlife Biologist to review the application, Raynolds Pass itself, and the Subdivision Regulations.

  • We are not opposed to RV Parks and understand that change has entered Madison County’s door, but this application intended to place a high-density resort in the narrowest part of the migration corridor for elk and pronghorn in the Madison Valley, only six miles from the upper Madison River.

Sam Arbogast, Kaye Counts, and Marina Smith

  • The investment of time and community donations paid off! The public opposition and the analysis by experts clearly demonstrated that the application did not meet requirements and would be hazardous to public health and safety. Madison County Commissioners, after the Planning Board approved the application, agreed that the application did not meet Subdivision Regulations and denied the application.

  • The 14 months’ opposition was exhausting and expensive for us, but it was worth it.

Excerpt from Board of Madison County Commissioners, March 15, 2023, Meeting Minutes

What It Means

The application and opposition were a big wakeup call for the property owners of the Upper Madison Valley.

  • Lowering water levels in existing wells, the result of drought and the drilling of more wells into the fractured bedrock aquifer will affect the Madison River.

  • Wildlife habitat is eroding, and the critical migration corridor must be sufficiently open to ensure herd health and the health of other species in the ecosystem, including Big Horn Sheep, the endangered Grizzly Bear and Wolverine.

  • Madison County infrastructure cannot support high density growth, resulting in a concerning impact on public health and safety and waste management.

  • People choose to live in the Raynolds Pass area because of its agricultural and rural residential character and quality of life. That will disappear in a moment if we are not vigilant.