Zoning extended for town center land
The Kalispell City Council on Monday voted to extend the Planned Unit Development on the Glacier Town Center property.
The extension had been sought by Stillwater Corporation, which is owned by Roger Claridge.
The Glacier Town Center property covers 485.5 acres between U.S. 93 North and Whitefish Stage Road north of Glacier Memorial Gardens cemetery, the Stillwater River and West Reserve Drive.
According to city Building and Planning Director Tom Jentz, extending the Planned Unit Development allows Stillwater to maintain the zoning for the land. While the specific plat application — the ability to build on the land — will expire in January, Stillwater wanted to reserve the ability to use the original zoning.
“We have been happy with the PUD for the last six years,” Jentz told the council. “I see no problem with extending the plan for a year. We have a good relationship with the owner now.”
Jentz said that the zoning plans were well thought out but took a significant amount of time and money to develop.
According to the council, the landowner had no specific plans to develop the property at this time. The land currently is being farmed.
Glacier Town Center as proposed in 2008 involved two million square feet of retail and commercial space and approximately 650 residential units.
Glacier Town Center was originally proposed by developers Chad and Bucky Wolford, but the development never materialized due to economic circumstances. The property reverted to Claridge, the original owner.
The Planned Unit Development was originally approved in February 2008, along with annexation of the property and the first phase of the Glacier Town Center preliminary plat. Since then, the Planned Unit Development and the plat have been granted successive extensions.
The council also voted Monday to approve the city staff’s request to negotiate an agreement with CTA Architects to update the Airport/Athletic Complex Redevelopment Plan. The motion passed, with a vote of 5-1.
The plan, also known as the South Kalispell Urban Renewal Plan, was originally completed in 1996. Two companies applied for the job of updating the plan.
According to Jentz, the companies scored close during the selection process. CTA received a score of 96 out of 100 while Studio Cascade in Spokane scored 90.
Jentz said a main deciding factor was CTA’s local office, which would make communication easier, as well as the greater number of engineers the company employed.
Funding for the project will come from the Airport Tax Increment Financing District. The project is estimated to cost less than $125,000.
Reporter Brianna Loper may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at bloper@dailyinterlake.com.