Variety of city airport sites, options considered

The spokesman for a local group that wants to relocate Kalispell City Airport favors a site farther from the city that would allow larger aircraft.

Quiet Skies representative Scott Davis was at an open house Monday in Kalispell to view options on what to do with the city’s general aviation airport. He favors a new airport farther south.

Thirteen alternatives at five different sites (including the current airport) were on display Monday night at an open house hosted by Stelling Engineers as part of a $97,800 update of the city airport’s master plan.

These will be whittled down to five or six alternatives over the next few weeks, Stelling representative Jeff Walla said.

All of the new sites primarily are farmland, which could be purchased with federal money if the Federal Aviation Administration signs off on it, Walla said.

One is on the south, two on the east and one on the west of Kalispell. Stelling Engineers focused on areas within five miles of city limits.

There are six alternatives involving the airport’s current location, including moving or removing various combinations of trailers, hangars, a home, shops, a road, trees and an animal shelter. Ashley Creek would need to be rerouted under one alternative. Another alternative would remove a portion of Cemetery Road.

The southern site is located near Lower Valley Road and Foy’s Bend Lane. 

The western site is at West Springcreek Road and West Reserve Drive just west of Glacier High School. 

The eastern sites are both near Montford Road, with one near Egan Road and the other near Jaquette Road. The former would require relocating a home and burying an overhead power line. The latter is located just south of Montana 35 and would require closing a portion of Holt Stage Road.

Davis said he prefers one of the two options at the southern site along Lower Valley Road. He notes that it’s close to Old School Station and city sewer and water connections. That site would use Federal Aviation Administration money to upgrade the airport to handle larger aircraft.

Davis said the additional noise created by the aircraft wouldn’t be as much of a problem due to the location. There are 8,000 to 10,000 people close to the current airport, as opposed to only 500 or 600 near the Lower Valley Road site, he said.

The location is close to the Flathead River and could be reached by Demersville Road.

Walla said he will confer with city officials in a few weeks and later with the FAA. Stelling will recommend the site with the highest potential. Options at the current airport include some that meet FAA design standards and some that don’t.

Stelling is taking public comment on the sites and alternatives for the next two weeks. Comments can be sent via email to jwalla@stellinginc.com or regular mail at Stelling Engineers, 1372 Airport Rd., Kalispell, MT 59901.

Walla said the site information will be available online at the city’s website, kalispell.com.

A draft master plan should be complete by September, Walla said.

Reporter Caleb Soptelean may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at csoptelean@dailyinterlake.com.