City council to discuss casino policy
On the heels of a contentious development deal involving a casino, the Kalispell City Council tonight plans to discuss policies surrounding the local gambling business.
The council will hold a work session this evening focused on casinos and what sorts of land-use restrictions should or shouldn’t be in place.
“Our planning department outlined several examples from other municipalities,” Kalispell City Manager Doug Russell said.
A memo from the department outlines what types of changes the council could pursue. They all involve land-use policies such as setbacks and zoning restrictions. Whitefish, for instance, decided to create a specific area where casinos would be allowed, according to the memo.
Other cities have tried to disperse casinos throughout the city to avoid a concentration. That has been Kalispell’s policy so far.
Kalispell is home to 29 casinos within city limits, according to state data. They are all limited to 20 machines and must be tied to a state liquor license. They are generally “accessory use” facilities, meaning the casino is part of a larger business.
City zoning ordinances also place special rules on casino development.
They must be at least 300 feet away from churches, schools, parks and city residential zones. In most cases, the “accessory use” casino portion must be no more than 20 percent of the overall business floor space.
In addition, there are limitations on casino signs, number and location of entrances and visibility to noncasino patrons.
Still, some residents have voiced strong casino opposition, which came to a head at an April 6 City Council meeting. The city was considering plans for a new Town Pump gas station, including a casino, near U.S. 93 and West Reserve Drive. It would be the first near that highway north of Idaho Street.
Public comment — mostly against the casino — lasted nearly two hours. Some people spoke about the increased vehicle traffic while others denounced the perceived impact on the quality of life.
One of the most outspoken critics was Jenny LaSorte, a north Kalispell resident who was on hand to speak throughout the Planning Board and City Council stages.
“I am opposed based on the social cost of gambling,” she told the council April 6. She attributed social ills such as increased suicide rates and prostitution to casinos.
At a March 10 Planning Board hearing on the development, Somers resident Sherry Wehrman said that as a recovering compulsive gambler, she can attest to the negative impact on people’s lives. She added that north Kalispell was a place where she could take her family and not see casinos and bars.
After lengthy discussion, the council ultimately approved the Town Pump casino on a 5-4 vote. Many of those in support noted that Town Pump’s proposal fit all of the legal criteria previously set by the city.
Following those meetings, it was clear that council members would consider casinos more closely. On April 20, they even struck a casino provision from a north Kalispell shopping center permit, even after the developer said there were no plans to accommodate one. The amendment passed on an 8-1 vote.
The council will hold its discussion at a work session at 7 p.m. today at City Hall, 201 First St. E.
Reach reporter Matt Hudson at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.