Council to pursue west-side land donation

The Kalispell City Council has directed its planning staff to proceed with acquiring a 100-foot wide, 3,000-foot long strip of land on the west side of the city.

The consensus was reached during a work-study session Monday night.

The Montana Department of Transportation would like to donate the land to the city. The land is railroad right-of-way that the state purchased from BNSF Railway as part of the U.S. 93 Alternate Route land acquisition.

Flathead County has a 15-foot easement and bike trail along the southern edge of the property, which Rails to Trails maintains. The trail is part of the Great Northern Historical Trail that runs from Kalispell to Kila.

Rails to Trails is interested in entering into a memorandum of understanding with the city that supports its current although unofficial function. Rails to Trails representative Dick Siderius said the group plans to seal-coat the trail sometime next year.

The land in question is north of the 140-acre Willow Creek development that the council approved in July.

City Planning Director Tom Jentz said a street eventually will be built through the land by Willow Creek developers Hubert and Wayne Turner. The Turners also own eight acres north of the narrow strip of land that they plan to develop, Jentz said.

City Parks and Recreation Director Mike Baker said the city eventually could put some small “pocket parks” along the trail.

Councilmember Jim Atkinson said acquiring the land helps protect the city’s interests. That was the general consensus of council, although Bob Hafferman and Tim Kluesner would like to accept the land but retain the county easement.