Sonju Industrial planning major expansion

Flathead County Board of Adjustment tonight will consider a conditional use permit requested by Sonju Industrial of Kalispell to expand its facility on U.S. 93 to install more machinery and increase production capacity.

The existing 14,000-square-foot building evolved from an auto body shop into a firearms and aerospace manufacturing facility and would remain in operation. 

It is considered a “non-conforming use” because of its suburban agriculture zoning and the Highway 93 North Zoning District that does not allow manufacturing. Sonju Industrial, however, predates the county’s formation of that district.

Plans on file with the county show Sonju Industrial intends to build a 19,513-square-foot addition with a large work space, new offices, 44 new parking spaces, a new well and upgraded septic system.

In a staff report, county planning staffers recommend the conditional user permit be approved subject to 11 conditions, one of which could include securing a new or updated approach permit from the Montana Department of Transportation.

Decisions made by the Flathead County Board of Adjustment are considered final actions.

Tonight’s meeting starts at 6 p.m. in the second-floor conference room of the Earl Bennett Building, 1035 First Ave. W. in Kalispell. It is open to the public.