West Reserve land-use proposal put on hold

With a fair amount of public opposition and no buy-in from the Flathead County Planning Board, the Planning Office has opted to withdraw a proposal to change the land-use designation on a stretch of West Reserve Drive and continue working on the plan.

The proposed amendment to the Kalispell City/County Master Plan would have changed the land use — not the zoning — from suburban agriculture to commercial on 27 properties on West Reserve between the Whitefish River and the railroad tracks in Evergreen.

Since the master plan and land-use map were adopted in 1986, the area has undergone substantial growth. A Planning Office review of land uses along that section of West Reserve determined that half of the properties within the affected area already are zoned for commercial or industrial use.

During a Nov. 10 public hearing, several residents said they were opposed to the land-use change. The potential for more traffic and spot zoning emerged as key issues for both the public and Planning Board.

Planning Board member Gordon Cross said he was concerned the board may be sending mixed signals as to how it wants issues like this resolved because the board had asked for such an amendment in the past and now was poised to deny a recommendation, according to the draft minutes of the hearing. Cross also noted that currently there is not a huge demand for commercial development in that area.

Jim Heim was the only board member who spoke in favor of the amendment, noting that he believed the traffic issues could be mitigated. West Reserve Drive eventually will become a commercial corridor, he maintained, adding that without a land-use amendment it would be a “piecemeal approach” to development.

After board member Bob Keenan withdrew his motion to recommend denial of the amendment, Planning Director BJ Grieve said his staff would continue work on the application if the Planning Office can get county commissioner approval to allocate resources for a more extensive review suggested by some board members.

If a revised proposal is brought back, another public hearing will be held, Grieve said.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com