H. SKURP Public HearingPLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
REPORT TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE:
MON ANA
Doug Russell, City Manager
Jarod Nygren, Senior Planner
Planning Department
201 Ist Avenue East
Kalispell, MT 59901
Phone: (406) 758-7940
Fax: (406) 758-7739
www.kalispell.com/planninE
South Kalispell Urban Renewal Plan - Airport and 18th Street West
Project Public Hearing
December 16, 2019
BACKGROUND: The Kalispell City Council, at their meeting on December 2, 2019, approved
Resolution 5952. Resolution 5952 set a public hearing date of December 16, 2019, where the
Kalispell City Council intends to take public comment on the proposed South Kalispell Airport and
18th Street West Urban Renewal Project. The proposed South Kalispell Urban Renewal Plan project
includes the following:
1. The closure of 18th Street West from Airport Road westerly and replacing it with a new
alignment two blocks to the north at 16th Street West connecting Airport Road with 1st
Avenue West.
• This project will eliminate the dangerous off set intersection at 18th Street West and
Airport Road.
• The new 16th street alignment will be built to city standards and contain curb, gutter,
sidewalks, landscape boulevard and street trees on both sides.
• The new alignment will also continue the painted and signed bike lane off Airport Road in
place of on street parking.
2. The construction of approximately 7,500 linear feet of sidewalk extending:
• Along the west side of Airport Road from Rankin School to U.S. 93 South,
• Along 1st Ave. West from Airport Road and 16th Street West to 12 Street West and then
westerly along 12 Street West to just past Legends Field,
• Along the north side of 18th Street from Airport Road east to U.S. 93 South, and
• Along the south side of Begg Park Drive from Airport Road to Ashley Creek.
This component will provide continuous pedestrian access via sidewalks from Rankin School
north to several new subdivisions and apartment complexes and to existing sidewalk which
connect the Kalispell Downtown, Legends Field and Flathead High School.
3. Signing Airport Road shoulders as a designated bike lane.
• The city has officially signed Airport Road shoulders as "No Parking". This provides an
excellent opportunity to designate both sides of this road as bike lanes.
• This road is a popular commuter and recreational road for bicycle traffic.
• The initial sidewalk design proposed in 2 above was intended to be an 8-foot-wide
detached shared path for pedestrians and bikes. With the advent of "no parking" along
Airport Road, it makes sense to reduce the width and cost of the sidewalk program (now
proposed to be a standard 5-foot sidewalk width) and move bikes out to the Airport Road
Shoulders.
• The Bike Lane would be designated with both signs and painted bike emblems on the
roadway shoulders.
4. The conversion of the vacant lot at 18rh Street West and Airport Road to an improved public
parking facility.
• The site will accommodate approximately 166 parking spaces, have internal landscape
islands, comply with city storm water standards and contain landscape boulevards, street
trees and sidewalks along the perimeter.
• This parking lot will provide a controlled snow storage area during winter months serving
the Airport Road neighborhood and will be managed in compliance with our MS-4
requirements.
At the subsequent Council meeting on January 6, 2020, the council can take action on the proposed
South Kalispell Urban Renewal project.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Kalispell City Council hold a public hearing
and take public comment on the proposed South Kalispell Urban Renewal Plan project
FISCAL EFFECTS: There are no anticipated fiscal impacts at this time.
ALTERNATIVES: Deny the request.
ATTACHMENTS: As a link to the December 2, 2019 agenda items:
November 12, 2019 Kalispell Planning Board Minutes
September 18, 2019 URA Minutes
April 17, 2019 URA Minutes
September 19, 2018 URA Minutes
Airport Road and 18'h Street Project Planning Board Report/
Findings South Kalispell Urban Renewal Plan
c: Aimee Brunckhorst, Kalispell City Clerk