Vote on zoning-rule changes postponed

An ordinance to make five proposed changes to the city’s zoning regulations was tabled Monday by the Kalispell City Council.

One of the changes would let downtown businesses set temporary “sandwich signs” out on the sidewalk, but only on Main Street between Center and Fifth.

Such signs currently are not allowed.

Under the proposed ordinance, signs would only be allowed from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., could be three feet tall at most, and would have to leave at least five feet of the sidewalk open for pedestrian traffic.

Businesses would also have to show the city that they have insurance for the signs, which would be in the city right of way.

The  insurance coverage — $750,000 per occurrence and $1.5 million aggregate— could prove cost prohibitive for businesses.

The Montana Municipal Interlocal Authority has advised the city that it would not be covered if the signs caused a casualty in the city right of way.

“We’d be asking shop owners to provide that coverage and name the city as additionally insured,” City Attorney Charles Harball said.

Before tabling the ordinance for two weeks, several council members expressed some interest in possibly allowing the sandwich signs in a larger part of downtown, potentially the entire Business Improvement District.

Other proposed changes to the zoning regulations include:

n Updating the standards for zoning map amendments to better reflect current state law.

n Clarifying the maximum size of accessory structures by stating the maximum size of 1,000 square feet in the text rather than in the definitions.

n Adjusting the light intensity standards for electronic reader boards as suggested by a representative from the sign manufacturing industry.

n Changing the process for group homes (eight or fewer people) to require a public notice and public forum before the Planning Board, but otherwise allowing the homes as a permitted use.