Planning board OKs massive Kalispell housing project
<p class="p1">This view from the air on Friday looks north along the route of the U.S. 93 bypass at its intersection with Three Mile Drive in west Kalispell.</p>
The Kalispell Planning Board is recommending approval of Spring Creek Park, a massive subdivision proposed between Two Mile Drive and Three Mile Drive.
Spring Creek Park, if approved, would encompass 65 detached single-family dwellings, 113 townhome/rowhouse dwellings, and 464 multi-family dwelling units, along with two commercial lots, park area and open space.
Developer GKM Associates, LLC., requested a zone change, a planned unit development overlay and preliminary plat approval for phase one of the project. The zone change would convert approximately 25.6 acres of current R-3 (Residential) zoning to RA-1 (Residential Apartment). It would also realign and expand the B-1 area from 3.9 acres to approximately 5.82 acres.
The proposal also includes three variances from the city’s standards. Townhome lots would be 3,000 square feet instead of the typical 6,000 square feet. Building heights for the townhomes would be 40 feet rather than 35 feet, so the buildings could incorporate pitched roofs. And lot coverage would increase from the usual 45% to 60% for the townhomes.
Eight nearby residents to the property voiced concerns about the development at the board’s meeting Tuesday. Traffic, density and the height of the townhomes all figured significantly into the comments against the development.
Diane Etter summarized many of the opposing sentiments.
“I strongly object to the zone change that would permit the high-density apartment houses and also to the variance that would allow 40-foot heights on the row houses,” she said. “It is not fair for a person in that row of houses in the next adjoining subdivision who did their due diligence and saw that the area was zoned for single family so they bought their house and now they’re faced with looking at a 45-foot wall of apartments for the rest of their tenure there.”
Despite the opposition to Spring Creek Park, the Planning Board unanimously approved motions to forward onto the City Council the zone change, planned-unit development request and preliminary plat request.
In support of Spring Creek Park, board member Kurt Vomfell said, “I understand the concern about the zone change and the density increase, but I honestly think that this is filling a need in the community. There’s a lot of people that just can’t afford to buy a home and they need somewhere to live. I think as much as people don’t like density, it’s necessary as the city grows.”
The Planning Board also sent its approval of a preliminary plat and planned-unit development request for Silverbrook Estates Phase 3, a major subdivision containing 12 lots on approximately 22 acres in the northeast corner of Silverbrook Estates.
Both items will come before the Kalispell City Council on March 7.
Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 406-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.