Kalispell Planning Commission begins work on new public participation process

The Kalispell Planning Commission on Tuesday took a first look at a proposed public participation process for future development decisions as required by the Montana Land Use Planning Act.

Under the Senate Bill 382, signed into law by Gov. Greg Gianforte in May, cities with 5,000 or more residents within a county exceeding 70,000 people must adopt a new land use plan that puts public participation early in the planning process and streamlines all subsequent decision-making at the municipal level.

“This should really get out there to people,” PJ Sorensen, senior city planner, told commissioners during the Jan. 9 meeting.