Kalispell City Council poised to green-light Village Loop multi-family building

Kalispell City Council is expected Tuesday to vote on a conditional use permit for new multi-family residential units on Village Loop.

City Council meets Tuesday because of the New Year’s Day holiday at City Hall, 201 First Ave. E., at 7 p.m. For more information on how to attend or participate, including remotely, visit: https://www.kalispell.com/agendacenter.

Volga Rentals LLC is requesting a mixed-use conditional use permit for the construction of four multi-family residential units as part of a development located at 63 and 65 Village Loop. The project requires a permit owing to its location in an area zoned residential/office.

When finished, the two-story building is expected to boast 4,000 square feet of office space on the first floor with the four residential units on the second story. 

Residents have raised concerns about the size of the development’s stormwater drainage pond, the effect of the multi-family housing on the neighborhood’s character and the availability of parking. In a prior Planning Board meeting, Kalispell City Planner PJ Sorensen maintained that all these concerns are subject to city regulations and that the property owner is accommodating the municipality’s requests. 

After holding a public hearing on the proposal on Dec. 12, the Planning Board voted to recommend Council approve the request. City staff likewise recommend that Council give Volga Rentals the green light.

COUNCIL will also vote on a request from Spartan Holdings LLC for a preliminary plat for phases four through six of its Eagle Valley Ranch development. These phases of the project are expected to see construction of 137 single family and multi-use units, parks and a commercial lot. 

The 39.8-acre area is located east of U.S. 93 North and is part of the 107-acre Eagle Valley Ranch mixed-use planned unit development south of Ponderosa Lane, which was approved in 2018 and expanded in 2022. 

Earlier public comment on the Eagle Valley Ranch project included concerns about large increases of traffic as well as ongoing construction and noise from the commercial lot. Plans for 8-foot-tall walls to block sound are included in the developer’s plans. 

Council will also see a quartet of reelected incumbents sworn into office. Councilors Sid Daoud, Kari Sue Gabriel, Sam Nunnally, Ryan Hunter all were on the Nov. 7 ballot. 

Following the swearing-in ceremony, councilors will elect a council president. Councilor Chad Graham currently holds that position.

Carl Foster can be reached at cfoster@dailyinterlake.com.