Kalispell Planning Board sends conditional use permit for recovery home to City Council

The Kalispell Planning Board passed a resolution recommending a conditional use permit for a recovery home operated by Absolute Ministries at Monday’s meeting.

The group home, slated as transitional housing for members of Absolute Ministries’ faith-based drug and alcohol addiction recovery program, would be located at 730 First Ave. W. Although nearby residents criticized the project at the Dec. 13 meeting, board Chair Chad Graham said the body had no choice but to pass the resolution.

“Our hands are tied with the approval [of] this, but we want to hear what you say,” Graham said to those in attendance.

According to senior planner JP Sorenson, the project was not required by state law to secure a permit, because they do not offer any therapeutic services that require licensing. Planning Services Director Jarod Nygren said that officials deemed subjecting the recovery home to the conditional use permit process beneficial because it alerted neighbors and offered the opportunity for public comment.

City Hall ran the risk of violating state and federal housing discrimination law if they denied the use, Nygren said, as addiction is classified as a disability under federal law.

Criticisms included an influx of trash in the neighborhood and lessened property values, among others.

Resident Norma Linsky was concerned that the residential block’s trash cans were “already overflowing.” Nygren noted that the city’s Department of Public Works could deliver another waste bin upon request.

Linsky, though, also raised concerns about property values if a recovery house were to move to the neighborhood. She claimed a house for sale in the area was struggling to attract interested buyers because the sellers were upfront about the potential group home.

Neighbor Matt Banks shared concerns about property values. Visibly angry, Banks accused the board of operating a “kangaroo court” because he felt the decision had already been made.

“To the extent that I am capable, I will fight this,” Banks promised.

According to a 2019 study commissioned by the National Bureau of Economic Research, substance use disorder treatment centers had no impact on surrounding property values, and that anecdotal claims were overstated.

Supporters of the recovery home included Gary Hall, a former mayor of Columbia Falls and one-time county commissioner, who said he has known applicant Aaron McPherson for years.

“I’m extremely impressed with the quality of individuals currently enrolled,” Hall said, explaining that he went to the open house.

In his time serving as commissioner, Hall said he learned of the lack of these kinds of recovery resources in the valley and so was glad to see a proposed facility in Kalispell.

McPherson, of Absolute Ministries, attempted to assuage concerns, saying that issues like trash and parking were “minor” and “easily solvable.”

In an interview afterward, McPherson said he understood that change is tough.

“We’re just going to have to prove ourselves, and that will take time,” McPherson said.

He also said that he hoped that the home could change people’s minds about addiction recovery.

“We’ll win them over,” he said. “We’re going to go overboard to be good neighbors.”

Kalispell City Council must still approve the permit. It is slated to come before Council at its Jan. 3 meeting.

ALSO ON MONDAY’S agenda were items about a new multi-family housing permit and a group of homeowners requesting to have their block added to the Westside parking management district, which was established by a 2015 ordinance to limit parking by Flathead High School students during school hours.

Both passed unanimously and will go before the City Council at its Jan. 3 meeting.

Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at 758-4407 or aknowler@dailyinterlake.com.