Habitat plan for duplexes approved in C. Falls

Northwest Montana News Network

The Columbia Falls City Council on Monday approved Habitat for Humanity's plan to construct 16 housing units.

Habitat proposes to build eight duplex units on about 1.4 acres just north of Columbia Falls Apartments adjacent to Plum Creek Timber Co.

A zone change and preliminary plat were approved for the site. Currently it is vacant land zoned for residential apartments. The change rezones the property to two-family residential.

The preliminary plat calls for eight lots with 16 townhouses constructed on sublots on the site.

Both requests fall in line with the city growth policy that recognizes the need for high density and low-cost housing dispersed throughout the city.

Under the plat, a private street would run east and west through the middle of the property. A variance also was approved for the street that is proposed at 12 feet wide with hard surfaces connected extending it to 30 feet wide.

City standards set a private street at 20 feet of paved surface on a 60-foot roadway. Following that standard would have resulted in the reduction of the number of lots.

"The reason we're allowing this layout is because this is addressing affordable housing needs," City Manager Bill Shaw said.

Shaw told the council that police would be able to enforce laws on the street, such as a no-parking requirement, with written consent from Habitat for Humanity.

Council member Dave Petersen voiced concern about fitting 16 units on the site.

"I see the benefit of lower-income housing, but it has to be comfortable," he said.

Habitat's Flathead Valley director Patti Gregerson said the number of units is necessary the keep the homes affordable.

She said the homes will cost between $105,000 and $110,000.

Habitat provides affordable housing for low income families who agree to put at least 500 hours of work into a house. Homes are build largely by volunteers.