County planning board holds vote on KM Ranch Road project

A proposal that could add more than 200 housing units to KM Ranch Road and has drawn the ire of neighbors heads before the Flathead County Planning Board for a decision Wednesday.

Montarise Developments, LLC is requesting a zone change for three parcels of land totaling 155 acres just north of the county landfill boarding U.S. 93.

The county planning board meets at 6 p.m. in the second floor conference room of the South Campus Building at 40 11th St. W. in Kalispell. Recommendations from the planning board are forwarded to the Flathead County Commissioners for final consideration.

Though the issue before the board is only a zone change, Montarise representatives have presented information on further plans involving 268 housing units and 20 acres set for commercial use. They say the project would provide needed housing for the Flathead Valley.

During a special meeting last month at the Flathead County Fairgrounds, the planning board heard from about 45 people in attendance. All of those comments came down against the request and cited concerns about increasing traffic, changing the character of the neighborhood and overburdening public safety resources.

The request is to change the zoning from SAG-5 suburban agricultural to R-1 suburban residential, reducing the minimum lot size from 5 acres to 1 acre.

At the meeting the board will also consider:

• A request from Seven Ventures LLC for a zone change for 5 acres located at 94 Lower Valley Road, Kalispell. The request is to change the zoning from suburban agricultural to light industrial. The property currently has a single-family dwelling, a mobile home and a shop.

• A request from Richard and Merry Jo Smith for a zone change on about 10 acres at 1925 Pine Grove Lane, Kalispell. The request is to change the zoning from SAG-10 to SAG-5. The property contains a single-family dwelling and the application says the owner would like the ability to subdivide for the benefit of a family member.

• A request by Double L Development, LLC for a preliminary plat for Songbird Estates, a proposal to create eight residential lots on 40 acres located at 2505 Columbia Falls Stage Road, Kalispell. The proposed lots would be served by individual wells and septic systems. The property is unzoned.

• A request from Jerry and Darcy Johnson for a preliminary plat of an amended plant for Chester Estates. The proposal is to create two residential lots on about 2 acres at 2483 Holt Stage, Kalispell. The proposed lots would be served by individual wells and septic systems.

• A request from Roxy Zomer for a major land use review to allow for the expansion of an existing RV park at 15735 U.S. 2 at Essex. The property at about 55 acres already includes 43 existing RV spaces, an office building, pavilion and single-family dwelling. The proposal includes the addition of 32 RV spaces with utilities, an open space area with a playground, and expansion of an existing restroom and laundry facilities.

• A request from Lower Valley, LLC for a preliminary plat approval of Majestic Meadow Subdivision, a proposal to create eight residential lots on about 20 acres. The property located along Majestic View Lane, near Kalispell, is currently undeveloped pastureland. The proposed lots would be served by a multi-use water system and individual septic systems.

Features Editor Heidi Desch may be reached at 758-4421 or hdesch@dailyinterlake.com.