Developers pitch RV park plan for South Kalispell

The developers of a proposed 330-space RV park in South Kalispell pitched their idea to Kalispell City Council at a public hearing Monday.

The owner of the proposed 50-acre development, Andy Matthews and Rob Smith of A to Z Engineering, told council they have been working throughout the process to coordinate with nearby residents and businesses.

Smith acknowledged that the proposal was a big one, but thought it was a good fit for the growing city.

“We think as far as urban RV parks go, this one is a little denser than you usually see out in the county area, but we think it is going to be a real good one,” Smith said.

Matthews, who is applying through Florida-based firms Montana Basecamp Inc. and Basecamp Outpost LLC, said public input was important to them and they had been working to gather testimonies of supportive area residents to provide the council and working to mitigate concerns they heard.

“We feel like we’ve worked out a really good situation for everyone near the property,” Matthews said. “All types of businesses have reached out to us, restaurants, bars, boat dealerships and R.V. dealerships.”

The proposed lot is currently undeveloped, with the Great Northern Historical bike trail running along the western and southern boundary, and a Montana Department of Transportation bike trail running along the northern boundary, which separates it from the U.S. 93 bypass.

The council will take a deeper look at the proposal at their next work session Aug. 27.

Other actions by City Council on Monday included:

- Council considered another update to the 2018 Kalispell Water Facility Plan. City Manager Doug Russell said the changes council approved had no substantive impact other than correcting an error regarding scheduled payments in the plan. “This is a resolution to correct a clerical error… this just updates that for the official documentation,” Russell said.

- Council approved resolutions to set the annual appropriations, storm sewer maintenance assessments, urban forestry maintenance assessments, tax levies, street maintenance assessments, street lighting assessments and Tourism Business Improvement District for the city.

- Council voted to appoint Martin Rippen to the Street Tree Commission.

Reporter Peregrine Frissell can be reached at (406) 758-4438 or pfrissell@dailyinterlake.com.