Kalispell City Council returns Bette Albright to urban forestry committee

Kalispell City Council voted Monday to approve the appointment of Bette Albright to the urban forestry committee, also known as the tree board.

Albright is returning to the panel after a 12-year hiatus to serve on the Kalispell Public Schools Board of Trustees. Prior to that, the former teacher spent 30 years on the tree board, joining it at its inception.

The tree board studies “the problems and determines the needs of the City of Kalispell in connection with its tree planting, protection, maintenance and removal,” according to the city clerk’s office.

COUNCIL ALSO approved amendments to the Starling Phases 1-8 Planned Unit Development, or PUD.

The developer requested two amendments to the PUD, which received approval last fall.

The amendments modify the 35 live-work units within Phase 3 to 48 multi-family units and change the street access for six plots that are zoned to allow for the addition of auxiliary dwelling units, or ADUs.

The council did not receive any public comment on the issue, and quickly voted to approve it following the recommendation of senior planner PJ Sorenson.

The council is scheduled to meet for its next session on Dec. 5.

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