Kalispell City Council approves housing developments

Kalispell City Council approved several major housing developments Monday and finalized an ordinance aimed at discouraging panhandling on city streets.

Council approved a zone change and a major preliminary plat for the proposed Stillwater Village development. Located off of U.S. 93 between Silverbrook Estates and the Northern Pines Golf Course, the subdivision would consist of eight phases and 181 lots over nearly 47 acres.

The zone change would allow the development of townhouses, though planning staff pointed out that the unit density would remain the same as is allowed under the current zoning.

The plat calls for 67 detached single-family and 114 attached townhouse-style homes.

Neighbors who spoke at the meeting raised objections with the proposal, including about the increased housing density and impact on traffic entering and exiting U.S. 93.

Rodney Fowler, who lives in a neighboring development, felt that the developers should be required to go through the process to modify the existing zoning designation, rather than change the zoning outright.

He thought that would require the developer to demonstrate that the density wouldn’t affect surrounding property values. He said he couldn’t understand the rationale for the density change, other than for increasing the profit potential for the developer.

Councilors, though, spoke in favor of increased density developments to try to alleviate the city’s housing shortage.

Councilor Ryan Hunter said he understood concerns about the increased traffic on the highway, and proposed what he described as radical changes to the roadway within the city limits.

He said he’d like to see the speed limit dropped to 35 mph and the addition of sidewalks, stop lights and intersections.

Hunter said he wanted the area to seem “more like a main street than a highway.”

Council also approved the requests for annexation and initial zoning for the Creekside Subdivision, along with a request for major preliminary plat approval. The development would include 71 single-family lots on just under 25 acres.

Hunter voted against the development because he felt grading and in-fill in the plan would do unnecessary damage to established riparian vegetation.

Council also passed the second reading of an ordinance that penalizes panhandling and other transactions on city streets. Stemming from Councilor Chad Graham’s request to strengthen the city’s panhandling ordinance, the law will punish solicitors as well as motorists who exchange money or property with a fine of up to $500. Graham said at previous meetings that the intention was not to ban panhandling, but rather to ensure the free flow of traffic on city streets.

COUNCIL ALSO APPROVED the preliminary plat for Bitterroot Heights No. 2, a subdivision at 249 Three Mile Drive that would include 13 single-family lots on approximately 4 acres, and an expansion request from Ray of Hope Ministries, a homeless shelter.

Finally, Council also moved forward with hikes to certain Parks and Recreation fees and an ordinance that would modify special event and vending permits issued by the department.

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