Kalispell council votes Tuesday on expanding accessory dwellings

The Kalispell City Council intends to make its final determination on allowing accessory dwelling units in more areas of the city at its online meeting Tuesday evening.

The council and staff have been discussing accessory dwelling units since September. During a Jan. 11 work session, the council examined a proposed text amendment that would allow accessory units as a permitted use in the following city zones: R-4, R-5, RA-1, RA-2, H-1, B-1, B-2, B-3, and B-4 zones.

Maps highlighting these areas of the city are available online as part of the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, at https://www.kalispell.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01192021-567.

At the work session, there seemed to be support for allowing ADUs in some city zones, in order to increase housing and provide additional income to property owners. However, there were also concerns that approving this text amendment could eventually lead to rampant overdevelopment throughout the city.

IN OTHER business, the council will consider a proposal for a land exchange at Old School Station.

In April 2015, the city of Kalispell took over a tax lien from Flathead County on six parcels at Old School Station. Later that month, the city decided to try to sell the six parcels.

On May 1, 2020, the parcel known as Lot 4 was sold to Edge, LLC. However, Edge is now asking to exchange that lot for Lot 15, because Lot 15 would apparently “better fit its business needs,” according to the meeting agenda.

Edge plans on using the lot for an electrical contractor.

Under the proposed land exchange, Lot 4 would return to city ownership. Based on credit from Edge’s previous payments, the buyer would pay $98,500 for Lot 15, which is listed at $201,000.

Finally, the council will consider administrative changes that fit with the Flathead Community Foundation’s transfer of assets for the Kalispell Golf Association to the Whitefish Community Fund.

In 2009, the Kalispell Golf Association entered into an agreement with the Flathead Community Foundation to establish a fund for donors to provide resources for capital projects at the Kalispell Golf Course, which is leased to the Kalispell Golf Association by the city of Kalispell.

Now that the Flathead Community Foundation is transferring its assets to the Whitefish Community Fund, the city has been asked to enter into a new agreement.

The new agreement would not create any expense to the city. Funds donated to the Kalispell Golf Association could still be used for capital projects at the facilities owned by the city of Kalispell.

The main change — if approved by the council — would be the appointment of City Manager Doug Russell as Kalispell’s adviser to the Whitefish Community Fund. As adviser, Russell would have administrative powers with the Whitefish Community Fund on decisions such as distributing the fund.

The meeting will be held virtually via Zoom video conference starting at 7 p.m. on Jan. 19. The meeting has been moved from the usual Monday evening time to accommodate Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 18.

Public comment can be provided via email to publiccomment@kalispell.com or verbally during the video conference. Register to join the video conference at https://bit.ly/3imwvGi.

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