Development, land-use proposals dominate Kalispell agenda

The Kalispell City Council has a full agenda tonight for its first meeting of the new year as development and land-use proposals continue to dominate the agenda.

A two-part request from JAG Capital Investments for a 28-lot major residential subdivision will be considered. The 8.4-acre property, known as Autumn Creek, is located on Hathaway Lane north of U.S. 2 West.

The developer has requested a zone change and preliminary plat approval. Granting these requests would require the city to rezone the property from R-2 (Residential) to R-4 (Residential), and to approve a variance request along with the preliminary plat.

The Kalispell Planning Board has recommended the City Council approve the requests with 34 listed conditions, including one amended condition related to a driveway on Summer Place.

The council will consider a conditional-use permit request from Northwestern Energy to expand a nonconforming utility storage yard. The existing 13,975-square-foot building at 890 N. Meridian Road is located in B-1 (Neighborhood Business) zone, and utility storage yards with associated offices are not currently an allowed use within that zone.

However, expansions of up to a cumulative increase of 50% are allowed with a conditional-use permit. The proposal would add approximately 5,305 square feet to the existing building, an increase of a little less than 40%.

The Planning Board has recommended approval of Northwestern Energy’s request, subject to nine conditions.

Another development proposal before the council Monday comes from WGM Group on behalf of Silvermont Properties. It’s the latest request for Silverbrook Estates, a large residential project in North Kalispell.

The developer is now requesting final plat approval and a subdivision improvement agreement for Silverbrook Phase 2B-B, an eight-lot residential subdivision on 4.49 acres along Silvertip Trail.

The council originally approved the preliminary plat with 43 conditions in 2016 and amended the plat on Feb. 21, 2017. The plat was recently extended on Aug. 19, 2020, and further extended with the final plat approval for another phase on Sept. 21, 2020.

The request now before the council includes a subdivision improvement agreement for $430,000, or 125% of the remaining cost.

Finally, unrelated to city development, the council will consider authorizing the city manager to finalize a loan with the Montana Board of Investments Intercap Loan Program to purchase an ambulance.

The maximum amount of the loan is $190,000 and is for a term of up to five years. This amount was anticipated in the fiscal 2021 budget. The initial rate on the loan is 2.5% and may be adjusted annually by the Board of Investments based upon the market.

Kalispell’s Ambulance Department previously purchased an ambulance for $189,438.

The meeting agenda states, “It is the intent to make a draw on the loan for this amount so that payments may be made over the term of up to five years thereby assisting the Ambulance Department with its cash flows.”

The full meeting agenda is available at: https://www.kalispell.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01042021-562

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. via Zoom videoconference.

The council will meet remotely via Zoom videoconference, starting at 7 p.m.

To join the meeting virtually, register at https://bit.ly/3ocB4Fk. To provide public comment via email, send written comments to publiccomment@kalispell.com.

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