Stillwater Bend gets thumbs-up from the Kalispell Planning Board

The Kalispell Planning Board last week recommended approval of amended plans for a commercial development known as Stillwater Bend Phase 1 along U.S. 93 North.

Spartan Holdings, LLC, is asking for a planned-unit development and major preliminary plat approval for a 15-unit commercial development located at 2890 U.S. 93 North. The approval came with a few amendments, including adjusting the building height restriction from 35 to 45 feet and doing away with a requirement to extend Rose Crossing.

“There’s really a lot of development primed in this area,” Planning Director Jarrod Nygren said.

In all, Stillwater Bend encompasses 56 acres along the west side of U.S. 93. The first phase of the project, which will focus on the commercial development, is expected to be completed in the next two years. The residential phase will be revisited at a later time.

Nygren discussed a number of changes that have been added to the project since Spartan Holdings secured the placeholder planned-unit development in 2017. The commercial section of the development has been expanded, while the residential portion has been slightly reduced.

Nygren and the board also considered some of the city’s subdivision requirements and the applicant’s requests for adjustments. Nygren noted the city does not require the developer to extend Rose Crossing as the application originally anticipated.

However, the city does require setbacks from the highway and the Stillwater River, which the applicant asked to be reduced. They requested the 100-foot setback from the highway be lowered to 50 feet and the 200-foot setback from the river be reduced to “a varying setback depending on the geotechnical analysis of the property.”

Board members deliberated about the setback requirements, as well as the property’s right of way, the height requirements, sign limitations and the visual impact of the development.

The only public comment came from a representative of the applicant with Jackola Engineering, who reported the developer has already hired a professional engineer to conduct the required third-party engineering analysis on the property. He said he believes Stillwater Bend will “help to create a very functional and useful commercial subdivision on the north part of Kalispell.”

The Planning Board unanimously recommended approval of the PUD and plat request, as well as amendments to the height requirements, right of way and various other components of the development.

At the end of the meeting, Nygren pointed out the Planning Board is accepting applications for the vacant senior planner position until Feb. 10. He said the city expects to fill the vacancy in about a month.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.