Candidate says city too cozy with developers

Kalispell Planning Board member Rick Hull thinks the city government has caved in too frequently to developers.

That's why he's running for City Council,

He points to the council's 2005 annexation of the Old School Station industrial park site two miles south of the rest of Kalispell. Several Planning Board members indicated the board was circumvented in that action.

And Hull points to the council listening in October to developer Bob Lovejoy describe a proposed 160-acre, 652-home project northeast of Kalispell that likely will seek annexation. If annexed, that site - River's Bend - would create another "island" of incorporated land surrounded by rural Flathead County and separated from the main town.

Hull argues that the Planning Board should have scrutinized that project prior to the council being briefed on it.

And he contends that a former city planner, Narda Wilson, left Kalispell government and was kept from returning because she offended a developer.

Wilson could not be reached for comment.

Hull and former Planning Board chairman Tim Norton said City Manager Jim Patrick met with Howard Mann, developer of the Silverbrook project just south of Church Drive, which was annexed in recent months.

They said Patrick asked Wilson about the Planning Board's stance on commercial development along U.S. 93, and she correctly replied that the board wants to keep businesses to a minimum along U.S. 93 North with setbacks from the highway.

Hull and Norton said her answer or demeanor rubbed Patrick and Mann the wrong way and caused a conflict with Patrick. They said she resigned because of that conflict.

Patrick noted that Hull and Norton were not at that meeting, but he declined to discuss Wilson's departure in detail. Patrick said he and Wilson discussed their differences and had a personality conflict.

After Wilson resigned, some Planning Board members approached Patrick to reinstate her. Patrick said he did not feel a reappointment was appropriate. "She was a great planner. I was sorry to see her go," Patrick said.

Hull says some developers play Kalispell against Flathead County to be annexed to get the town's water and sewer services - with the city annexing those projects so it won't lose control on how they are put together. "We keep getting threatened," Hull said.

In the past seven years, Kalispell has grown from roughly 14,000 people to an estimated 20,000. The city is adding 300 to 400 new homes annually.

Geographically, Kalispell has two incorporated "islands" - Old School Station and another island north of West Reserve Drive, wrapping around U.S. 93 up to Silverbrook and Church Drive. Then there is the potential River's Bend island.

The city's budget is strained by having to add roads, police, firefighters, fire stations, parks, drainage, and water and sewer functions to handle subdivisions seeking annexation mainly to get those services.

Another issue facing the council is that most house prices are greater than what half of the Flathead's workers can afford to pay.

Hull believes the council can be more receptive to smaller lots in subdivisions. "Four thousand

square feet is not too small," he said.

He also thinks the city government should explore community land trusts as an affordable housing measure.

On another matter, Hull said the council does not scrutinize routine and smaller costs enough - with dollars adding up. "We're just getting nickeled and dimed to death. … I don't think [council members] are scared enough of the public," he said.

One factor that triggered Hull's candidacy is his unhappiness with council member Kari Gabriel's sporadic attendance at Planning Board meetings. One board slot is to be filled by a City Council member.

Gabriel said her job as a consultant to community colleges across the West involves extensive travel. She routinely shows up at council meetings, while also getting briefed on the Planning Board meetings that she misses. Gabriel's term on the Planning Board expires early next year, and she has asked not to be reappointed.

While they live close to each other, Gabriel and Hull lived in different wards. Gabriel is running unopposed for re-election in Ward One.

Reporter John Stang may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at jstang@dailyinterlake.com