Permit approved for Columbia Falls apartment complex

The Columbia Falls City Council has approved a zone change and conditional-use permit that will allow for a 36-unit apartment complex off Meadow Lake Boulevard.

Whitefish developer Toby Gilchrist plans to build the two-building apartment complex on 2.25 acres near the intersection of the Truck Route and Meadow Lake Boulevard.

The development in February was denied a favorable recommendation by the Columbia Falls City-County Planning Board because of traffic and pedestrian concerns.

Gilchrist completed a traffic study and also confirmed that schoolchildren from the development would be bused to Ruder Elementary, not walking to Glacier Gateway.

The development would have city sewer and water service. The traffic study shows 239 vehicle trips per day and a traffic load increase of 5% to 10% on Meadow Lake Boulevard. It also would have about 11 school-aged children living there, according to projections.

The traffic impact at the intersection of Meadow Lake Boulevard and U.S. 2 was less than a 1-second delay per vehicle, the study claimed.

The apartment buildings would have two studio units, two one-bedroom units, eight two-bedroom units and six three-bedroom units when completed.

Gilchrist also agreed to install privacy fencing to the north and east at the request of neighbors.

This is the second development planned for Meadow Lake Boulevard. The Garnier Heights subdivision, which would be to the north and closer to the viaduct, is much larger.

Developer Mick Ruis is planning a 102-unit housing development on 28 acres spanning from Meadow Lake Boulevard to North Hilltop Road.

It will include 48 four-plexes and 28 duplexes as well as 26 single-family detached homes. It also will preserve more than 11 acres of wetlands.

The city approved that development in July.

Getting pedestrians to and from both developments safely has been a topic of conversation. Right now, the plan is to create at least a primitive path that will be constructed when the water line goes in.

The city has to extend water lines to both developments. There already is a sewer line running up Meadow Lake Boulevard, as the city serves Meadow Lake Resort with sewer service, but not water.