New permit revives apartment complex

Kalispell's Planning Board has given a thumbs-up to a proposed 65-unit apartment complex between North Meridian Road and U.S. 93 North.

Tuesday's recommendation to renew the project's conditional-use permit will go to Kalispell's City Council.

This is a revived 2004 venture whose permit expired when the project stalled a few years ago.

Calaway Brothers LLC wants to build eight apartment buildings totaling 65 units on 4.8 acres, along with a 2,000-square-foot clubhouse.

The buildings will range from a 3,100-square-foot six-plex to a 5,600-square-foot 12-plex. The buildings will be two, three and four stories - with a 40-foot maximum height.

The complex's entrance will be on Meridian Road.

The city's planning staff recommended putting in a street to connect the complex with Underhill Court to the south.

But co-owner Tim Calaway and Rob Smith of AZ Engineering argued against such a connecting street, saying it would affect parking and the clubhouse. They also argued that narrow Underhill Court is not big enough to deal with extra traffic, while Meridian Road is.

Underhill Court resident Betty Jo Malone agreed, and said she would circulate a petition against such a connecting street.

The planning board agreed with removing the proposed connecting road, while installing a bike-pedestrian path in its place.

"To put that road in would destroy that neighborhood," board member Rick Hull said.

Meanwhile, a partial right-of-way is being set aside on the complex's north side in case houses or buildings are constructed to the north.

The right-of-way would be available in the future to build a road to hook up with a potential westward loop to Three Mile Drive.