Board backs site for new bank branch

The Daily Inter Lake

A proposed Valley Bank branch at the corner of Northridge Drive and U.S. 93 North received a thumbs-up from the Kalispell Planning Board on Tuesday.

The board recommended 5-1 that the City Council change the zoning -with some modifications - of three acres from single-family residential use to neighborhood business use at the northwest corner of that intersection.

The proposed zoning change would allow Valley Bank to build an 8,000- to 9,000-square-foot branch with four drive-through lanes.

The Cornerstone Church owns 3.9 acres at that spot. It's selling the eastern segment to Valley Bank so the congregation would have money to repair and remodel the church.

Before recommending approval, the board required that the church and bank parking plans be amended.

Board member Richard Griffin was absent and John Hinchey voted against the zoning-change recommendation.