Kalispell zoning letter Public Comment from James Malone11-31-2020
City Council
City of Kalispell
201 1 st Ave. E/
Kalispell, MT 59901
Please consider my comments on making changes to the zoning of R3-Single
Family Residential in the area currently zoned R3, East of Highway 93, south of
Center Street, North of 14th Street and West of Woodland Ave.
This area is home to a large number of families that have lived in the area for a
long period of time and take pride in living in this residential area. Many of these
homes date back to the early 1920's and ownership of homes in this area
represents a large investment of money, investments of improvements labor, and
maintenance efforts to us. We choose to live in this area of Kalispell as a safe
neighborhood that is not in a state of disrepair.
This zoning, R3 Single Family Residential, should be maintained without
significant modification. The proposed modification of permitted uses to allow
multiple accessory structures that can be used for residential occupation by
renters will result in increased occupancy density and lower levels of home
maintenance and yard maintenance. The overall long term effect will lower home
monetary values, increase crime, and lower "pride of ownership" The Kalispell
City Council should not make modifications to permitted usage under the guise of
"Affordable Housing". Actions by the "Council" should not be at the expense of
existing home owners such as myself that have chosen to consider this a
desirable area to spend my remaining years of retirement living in.
am writing this from firsthand experience, having purchased and moved into the
area two years ago. Unknown to me at the time I purchased and moved into my
home on 7th Ave E. the house next door was owner/occupied with rooms being
rented out to non family adult men and women that had no stake in the home
ownership or maintenance. The men were extremely foul mouthed, continually
yelling vulgar language, and committed criminal acts of climbing over my fence
and cutting telephone and internet lines in the middle of the night. They also
threw raw eggs at my house in the middle of the night on several occasions
including Christmas Eve. I reported these acts to the Kalispell City Police and
had them out to investigate many times. These non owners/renters also knifed
holes in the tires of my truck which was inside of a locked garage costing me
over $1000 to replace the new ruined tires. Unfortunately, since these acts were
committed quietly in the middle of the night we were never able to prove that they
were the persons responsible. The City police were not able to take any
enforcement actions because all acts were committed on private property. The
City Police were very courteous and attempted to help us but their hands were
tied by not having proof that would stand up in court. The City Police did assist us
by installing a video camera on the front of the garage in an attempt to gather
proof of identity of the person committing these criminal acts. Fortunately for us,
the person owning the house next door sold it and a nice couple moved in
sending the "low life persons" down the road where they are undoubtedly
continuing their crimes. Some of my neighbors have had similar problems.
The "Single Family Residence" concept and definition should be maintained and
strengthened to enforce the concept of Single Family occupancy. I wouldn't wish
on my worst enemy the problems and issues I have endured during the period of
room rental next door.
welcome the opportunity to discuss this zoning request with any and all City
Council Members.
Respectfully
James Malone
1211 7th Ave. E
Kalispell, Mt. 59901