Columbia Falls considering converting baseball field into housing

Columbia Falls will look at possibly partnering with Habitat for Humanity and the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust on converting a parcel of city-owned land off Railroad Street into affordable housing.

The 1.3-acre lot is currently a youth baseball field, but doesn’t get a lot of use, according to city officials. It is not deeded as park land, City Manager Susan Nicosia told Council earlier this month.

If it was deeded as a park, it would require a vote by the public to actually sell it, she noted.

Still, it would be a public process if the city decides to convert the land. Councilor John Piper, a longtime youth baseball coach, noted that it’s mostly used by younger kids and, from a ballpark perspective, its proximity to the road and its lack of parking isn't ideal.

But there was concern amongst Council on how best to replace it. One idea was just have a smaller park in the same location.

The lot does boast some city services already. It has water as the ball field has a sprinkler system.

The plan, if it comes to fruition, would encourage multi-family housing, which is in high demand in Columbia Falls.

Council formally gave Nicosia the go-ahead to pursue the matter further.

In other municipal news Nicosia reported that Columbia Falls' resort tax is on target to meet the city’s estimate of raising about $1.5 million in revenue for the fiscal year.