Approval expected for Courthouse East

The hotly debated Courthouse East renovation project faces its final vote Monday night - but the item is on the consent agenda, indicating the Kalispell City Council intends to approve it without discussing the matter again.

On June 6, the council voted 8-1 to approve the first reading of DEV Properties' plan to convert the building into apartments, offices and a coffee shop.

The property has sparked a controversy among neighbors (and with the developers) for several months.

Some neighbors love the old building and approve of DEV Properties' plan. Others hate the building and think the land should house only single-family homes. Then there are people who like the courthouse but aren't sure about the developers' plan.

Opponents say the project will draw too much traffic and create too high a density in the neighborhood that generally is residential.

DEV Properties needs a zone change from urban single-family residential to residential/professional office for the 65,000-square-foot building to complete the project. The developers also want a planned unit development for the property, which sits on about 2 acres on the east side of Fifth Avenue East between Seventh and Eighth streets.

The building opened as a hospital in 1912 and later housed Flathead County government offices. It has been unoccupied for years.

The council has had a number of discussions about the project and tried a couple of approaches to resolving the conflict, such as facilitating an open house and presentation for neighbors and the developers.

During their last meeting, council members acknowledged the neighbors' concerns but said the building is unusual because it has a history of uses that don't conform to its residential zoning.

The item is on the consent agenda unless a council member asks to have it placed on the regular agenda for discussion.

Reporter Camden Easterling can be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com.