Council tackles Courthouse East, permit fees

Two main issues headline the Kalispell City Council's packed agenda tonight.

One is a plan to redevelop the old Courthouse East building, an issue that's been the subject of debate for east-side neighbors.

And the council will discuss whether to raise building permit fees by as much as 55 percent.

The debate over the Courthouse East redevelopment project began simmering long before the current owners bought the building. But they've drawn up a new project for the property that many neighbors prefer to the old plan, though some people still object.

DEV Properties wants to renovate the building, putting in apartments, office areas and artists' workspaces/apartments. The building might also house a small coffee shop. The exterior of the old hospital/courthouse would remain the same.

The previous owner, Gelinas Development, proposed a 24-unit duplex townhouse subdivision for the property.

The planning board recommended denial of the townhouse proposal and DEV Properties later bought the building.

When the new owners brought their plan to the planning board, the board tied 3-3 over the issue.

Tonight the council will wrestle with the issue that vexed the planning board: How should the city zone a property that's long been out of place in a residential neighborhood?

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

The neighborhood was zoned in the 1940s, at which time the building had long been used for nonresidential purposes. The property was zoned residential but was allowed to continue operating as a non-conforming use (commonly called a grandfathered use).

Before it addresses the Courthouse East project, the council will discuss increasing building permit fees.

City staffers want to raise fees to pay for three new positions in the building department.

The building department will bring in about $252,000 from building permits for fiscal year 2004-05. The increase would generate about $390,600 for fiscal year 2005-06, which starts in July.

City Manager Jim Patrick stressed that the numbers are estimates that the city's finance director will refine before the council meets.

The new positions would be an additional building inspector (the city has three now), a construction manager and a code enforcement officer.

Also on the agenda tonight:

. An ordinance that would establish initial zoning of low-density residential apartment for Granary Ridge Townhomes, a subdivision of eight two-unit townhomes. The applicant, Valley Ventures, also seeks a planned unit development and preliminary plat approval of the project. The property is on the east side of Whitefish Stage Road north of Edgerton School.

. An ordinance that would grant Three Mile Professional a zone change for 3.5 acres at the northwest corner of Three Mile Drive. The applicant wants to change the zoning from residential/professional office to neighborhood buffer.

. Final plat approval of Westview Business Center, a five-lot commercial subdivision on the east side of North Meridian north of Three Mile Drive.

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