Board supports pair of annexations
Two annexation requests — one involving construction of a proposed four-plex on Appleway Drive — were supported by the advisory Kalispell City Planning Board on Tuesday.
Board members supported annexing a single-family home at 205 Leisure Drive. The property is surrounded by city limits on three sides and has a failing septic system. The owner intends to connect to city sewer but continue to use a private water well.
They also supported annexing a half-acre site at 57 Appleway Drive and issuing a conditional use permit for Orchard Village to build a new four-plex there. The four-plex and an existing single family home on the property would be incorporated into the overall Orchard Village apartment complex next door. It has 54 rental units.
Both annexation requests now go to the Kalispell City Council with positive recommendations from the Kalispell City Planning Board.
In both cases, the properties appear to be parts of the city already — they’re just not paying any city property taxes or special assessments. With the annexations they would become taxpaying entities, Kalispell Planning Director Tom Jentz told planning board members.
PLANNING BOARD members also held a work session on a Fred’s Appliance Store plan that’s part of a planned unit development overlay Gardner Investments is requesting for two tracts of land totaling 4.7 acres.
The land is on the east side of U.S. 93, half a mile south of the Four Corners intersection and another site on the same side of the highway where the Gardners recently got approval for a new Volkswagen dealership.
The Gardners are proposing to build a Fred’s Appliance Store on one of the two lots. The company previously was looking to move into an existing building in Evergreen but that plan apparently fell through.
Kalispell requires the Planning Board to hold an informal work session on planned unit developments before a formal public hearing. That formal public hearing is set for the board’s next meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 4 in Kalispell City Hall.
Reporter Tom Lotshaw may be reached at 758-4483 or by email at tlotshaw@dailyinterlake.com.