Potential solutions for school parking

Kalispell Public Schools is looking at a combination of solutions to parking congestion around Flathead High School and Elrod Elementary as an alternative to a paid permit parking district proposed recently to the Kalispell Planning Board.

During a board work session on Tuesday, Dan Zorn, Kalispell Public Schools assistant superintendent, provided trustees with ideas the district has formulated as a potential compromise. No formal action was taken.

Administrators initially opposed the idea of a paid parking permit district, saying it would only displace parking congestion farther away from the school while raising safety and attendance concerns for students.

On a highlighted map, Zorn pointed out that the parking congestion at the high school primarily occurs on Fourth Avenue West, south of the school, and Third Avenue West. Around Elrod, Zorn noted some bottleneck traffic issues before and after school on the corner of Third Avenue West and Fourth Street West.

“We’ve spent a lot of time out there in the last couple of weeks roaming around the neighborhood looking at it,” Zorn said.

He proposed a combination of two ideas to relieve parking congestion — create additional parking at the two schools and establish paid permit parking limited to one side of Third Avenue West and Fourth Avenue West.

“Residents would get a permit and the west side [of the street] would be theirs, and the east side [of the street] is opened up for general parking,” Zorn said.

Zorn also described potential areas where additional parking could be created at the two school sites.

To alleviate parking congestion around Flathead, parking could be extended onto a grassy area located on the east side of the school.

“We estimate about 20 additional parking spaces we could add right there,” Zorn said, estimating that may roughly cost about $34,000.

There is also the potential to add six to 12 parking spots on Sixth Street West by the vocational technology building, depending if parking was parallel or diagonal, according to Zorn.

At Elrod, potential parking for roughly 30 staff members could be added to the southern edge of the school playground and in a nearby alley.

“We’ve got work to do yet in putting it all together,” Zorn said. “I’ll be meeting with the city Planning Board within the week to talk about what we’re thinking and I’m looking to arrange a time to meet with representatives from that neighborhood committee.”

Kalispell Public Schools Superintendent Mark Flatau also noted that the district has been contacted by the Northwest Montana Association of Realtors to potentially fund an independent study of the parking issue in relation to property value.

“It’s possible we can bring some dollars to the table for a comprehensive, professional study,” Flatau said.

The Kalispell Planning Board has scheduled a public hearing for Oct. 14 at City Hall to address the proposed paid permit parking district around the Flathead and Elrod neighborhoods.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.