City sells Old School Station lot 9

Old School Station remains one of the most desired properties in Kalispell after yet another lot there was sold during the Kalispell City Council meeting Monday.

Located behind Fun Beverage in South Kalispell, the city-owned property has been the site of a flurry of land sales since the start of the year. On Monday, the Kalispell City Council unanimously approved an offer from Clifton Jones to buy Lot 9 at its listing price of $228,420.

Jones seemed determined to purchase a piece of the Old School Station, even after his previous buy-sell agreement to purchase the lot fell through.

There are multiple reasons for buyers like Jones to want to secure an investment at Old School Station. Offers for the property’s coveted six lots have been pouring in, even though the land sat idle for years after the city acquired it from Flathead County in 2015.

Most of the available lots are under contract at this point.

Lot 4, which was sold in 2020, is expected to be turned back over to the city next week, but City Manager Doug Russell said an offer is already on the table to scoop the lot back up.

THE COUNCIL also unanimously approved a separate agenda item regarding the trail system near Kidsports.

The council scheduled a public hearing on May 3 to gather public input on a proposed trail connection project along Four Mile Drive.

The project would involve installing approximately 815 feet of connective multi-use trail on Four Mile Drive, where the existing trails in Kidsports are currently separated from the Kalispell Bypass Trail.

A lighted pedestrian crosswalk is also being considered as part of the project, although its exact placement has yet to be determined.

“At this point in time, we felt like this was a pretty critical area given all the development and the adjacent city properties to get this piece of trail put in,” said Planning Director Jarod Nygren.

The city is looking into an application for the Montana Department of Transportation’s (MDT) Transportation Alternatives grant program to complete the project.

Through the program, the agency would be responsible for designing, funding and installing the trail along the public right-of-way. The Bloomstone subdivision, which owns part of the nearby property, would be required to match the funds provided by MDT for the portion along Bloomstone’s private property.

The city would not have any obligations to fund or undertake the project if it gets picked up by MDT. The application for the state program is due June 4.

THERE WAS also a public hearing on four proposed land use changes along Airport Road.

There were no public comments on the rezoning proposals for a 75-acre patchwork of land stretching from Begg Park to the intersection of Airport Road and the U.S. 93 bypass.

Also during the meeting, the Kalispell Urban Forestry Committee was honored by the Arbor Day Foundation for its long-standing commitment to stewarding Kalispell’s trees. Jamie Kirby with the Urban and Community Forestry state program awarded Kalispell with a sticker for its 34th year of “Tree City USA” status.

Members of the Urban Forestry Committee encouraged council members and the public to virtually attend the Kalispell Arbor Day celebration at 9 a.m. on April 30, broadcast live from Woodland Park.

Finally, Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson gave the following recommendations for appointments to vacancies on city boards:

· Board of Adjustment: Sarah Stahlberg , Doug Kauffman, Rory Young

· Board of Appeals: Lee Daugherty, Shawn Pauly, Darryl Byle

· Architectural Review Committee: John Hinchey, Robin Spear

· Conrad Mansion Board: Sue Corrigan

· Downtown Business Improvement District: Kisa Davison, Marshall Noice

· Economic Revolving Loan Fund Committee: Scott Blodgett, Sarah Stahlberg, AJ Spear

· Parking Advisory Board: Joel Schoknecht

· Planning Board: Doug Kauffman, Kurt Vomfell, Rory Young (Flathead County representative)

· Police Commission: Angela Mielke

· Tourism Business Improvement District: Noelle Barr

· Urban Forestry Committee: Judy Rosenfeld-Cox, Tony Nelson, Erin Stieber, April Vomfell, Martin Rippen

· Urban Renewal Agency: David Girardot

Johnson asked to re-advertise openings on the following boards and committees: the Downtown Business Improvement District, the Impact Fee Committee, the Technology Advisory Committee and the Urban Renewal Agency.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at (406)-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.