10-11-05Cf
KALISPELL CITY PLANNING BOARD & ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
OCTOBER 11, 2005
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL
CALL
The regular meeting of the Kalispell City Planning Board and
Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Board
members present were: George Taylor, Timothy Norton, Rick
Hull, Bryan Schutt, and Bob Albert. John Hinchey took his
seat at 7:54 p.m. Kari Gabriel was absent. Narda Wilson
represented the Kalispell Planning Department. There were
approximately 12 people in the audience.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Taylor moved and Norton seconded to approve the minutes of
the September 13, 2005 regular planning board meeting.
The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.
HEAR THE PUBLIC
Don Hines, President of the Flathead County Planning Board
said that a few weeks ago there was a project that came
before their board and during the board discussion, with
some input from the applicant; a letter was forwarded on to
him that he read to the Kalispell City Planning Board. (Copy
is attached)
Hines said one example where the city pursued expanding
services across boundary lines is the subdivision that the
city is putting in out on the south side of Three Mile Drive
just north of Two Mile Tracts 2. Hines asked that city
services be given an easement over the property line so the
subdivision he lives in, Two Mile Tracts 1 & 2 could, in the
future, hook on to city services, water and sewer, without
having to juggle with the landowners that were going to have
their property disrupted if Two Mile Tracts needed services.
Hines noted that there is a tract out on Three Mile Drive that
is 100% surrounded by city annexations and there are no
easements on it or any provisions for it. The Flathead County
Planning Board wishes to address this issue with the
Kalispell City Planning Board by discussing the applications
before they get to the point that they are complete with no
provisions for expanding services. Hines added that they
intend to also contact the Columbia Falls and Whitefish City -
County Planning Boards on this issue.
Taylor thanked Hines and said that they do want to work
together, and added that it is refreshing change from what
used to exist 4-5 years ago. Taylor suggested joint work
sessions be held to get a handle on these issues before the
application process gets rolling.
Hines said with the new director at the county level has his
hands full but he is interested in getting these issues on the
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
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table before they become a challenge to both the city and the
county.
Taylor said that on behalf of the Kalispell City Planning
Board they will make every effort to work together.
RANDOLPH & LINDA
A request by Randolph & Linda Torgerson for an initial
TORGERSON ANNEXATION
zoning designation of R-4, Two Family Residential, upon
REQUEST
annexation to the city of Kalispell. The property is located on
the west side of 7th Avenue West, north of Sunnyside Drive
and contains approximately 0.50 acres.
STAFF REPORT KA-05-13
Narda Wilson, representing the Kalispell Planning
Department presented Staff Report KA-05-13 for the Board.
Wilson stated that this is a request for annexation of a single
parcel on the west side of 7th Avenue, West and north of
Sunnyside. The property is a double frontage lot that has a
house near the eastern portion of the property and a
detached garage and the property owner intends to subdivide
this property and connect all the dwellings to city services.
Currently the property is in the county and zoned R-5, which
is a two family district similar to the city R-4 zoning
designation. Recently, adjacent properties have been zoned
R-4, which makes this request consistent with other activity
in the area and consistent with the growth policy designation
of urban residential. Wilson added that the property is just
over 1/2 acre in size and is part of Western Acres
Subdivision.
Staff is recommending that the Planning Board adopt Staff
Report KA-05-13 as findings of fact and recommend to the
Kalispell City Council that the initial zoning for this property
upon annexation be R-4, Two Family Residential.
QUESTIONS BY THE
Hull asked how many homes can be built on the property.
BOARD
Wilson said, with the assistance of the surveyor Rick
Breckenridge, that the existing single family home and
garage will remain on Lot 1 and a duplex will be constructed
on Lot 2, for a maximum of 3 dwellings.
APPLICANT/AGENCIES
Rick Breckenridge, 1405 Highway 2 West, and surveyor for
Mr. Torgerson noted that he recommended this approach for
initial zoning and annexation. Breckenridge said that Mr.
Torgerson's intention is that the existing house and garage
as it is built will stay as one parcel and then a duplex will go
on the other lot. There is enough room with the R-4 setbacks
to have a lot that is 61.24 feet wide by 155.93 feet long so it
does meet the minimum acreage requirements for the R-4
zoning and will hook into city services coming off of 7th
Avenue, West.
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
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Norton asked if the entire property is being annexed and
Breckenridge said yes.
PUBLIC HEARING
No one else wished to speak and the public hearing was
closed.
MOTION
Norton moved and Taylor seconded a motion to adopt Staff
Report KA-05-13 as findings of fact and recommend to the
Kalispell City Council that the initial zoning for this property
upon annexation be R-4, Two Family Residential.
BOARD DISCUSSION
Schutt said that this is a simple cut and dried proposal and
Taylor agreed, and added that it appeared to be an
improvement to the neighborhood.
Hull noted that this is an area that Kalispell received some
grants to bring in sewer and it is gradually improving and an
area where the city has made a positive change.
Norton added that this area was stagnant for a period of time
without a lot of growth. Now it has attracted the attention of
developers and it is growing.
ROLL CALL
The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.
NORTHWEST
A request by Northwestern Investments, LP for an initial
INVESTMENTS, LP
zoning designation of R-4, Two Family Residential, upon
ANNEXATION REQUEST
annexation to the city of Kalispell. The property is located on
the north side of Sunnyside Drive, west of the Ashley Creek
bridge and contains approximately 0.227 acres.
STAFF REPORT KA-05-15
Narda Wilson, representing the Kalispell Planning
Department presented Staff Report KA-05-15 for the Board.
Wilson noted that this annexation is actually an abandoned
R/W of Sunnyside Drive that was acquired by the adjoining
property owner and would be made part of an existing Lot 4.
It is the property owner's intent to build a detached garage in
that area. Wilson added that the property has already gone
through the county road abandonment process and has been
deeded over to the property owner. When the property owner
came in with the building permit they noted that the lot
would now be half in the city and half in the county so the
logical thing to do was to clean it up by bringing this portion
of Lot 4 into the city. Wilson continued that the lot that this
abandonment will be incorporated into is already zoned R-4.
It is consistent with the zoning of the area and consistent
with the growth policy.
Staff is recommending that the Planning Board adopt Staff
Report KA-05-15 as findings of fact and recommend to the
Kalispell City Council that the initial zoning for this property
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 3 of 18
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upon annexation be R-4, Two Family Residential.
QUESTIONS BY THE
Taylor asked if there are 2 residences on Lot 4 now. Wilson
BOARD
said no.
Schutt asked where Ashley Creek lies in relation to this
property. Wilson said that this property is immediately west
of Ashley Creek.
Norton said that they have often talked about Sunnyside
Drive being narrow with too much traffic. This is an
abandoned road easement and if Sunnyside was ever to
widen is there a provision that would include the potential
for R/ W acquisition with the widening of Sunnyside Drive.
Wilson said that this is a county road and it would be more
appropriate for the board to apply that provision with the
subdivision plat. There isn't a mechanism to reserve any
kind of future R/W with an annexation.
APPLICANT/AGENCIES
None.
PUBLIC HEARING
No one wished to speak and the public hearing was closed.
MOTION
Norton moved and Schutt seconded to recommend to the
Kalispell City Council that the initial zoning for this property
upon annexation be R-4, Two Family Residential.
BOARD DISCUSSION
Hull said that he was relieved to see that there would only be
a garage on the property and not another duplex. He sees no
problem with the request.
Taylor noted that he would like to see more of these
housekeeping items in the future.
ROLL CALL
The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.
FLATHEAD VALLEY
A request by Flathead Valley Community College for an
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
initial zoning designation of P-1, Public, upon annexation to
ANNEXATION REQUEST
the city of Kalispell. The property is located on the north
side of Grandview Drive and east of Hwy 93 and contains
approximately 63 acres.
STAFF REPORT KA-05-14
Narda Wilson, representing the Kalispell Planning
Department presented Staff Report KA-05-14 for the Board.
Wilson noted the owners of Hutton Ranch Plaza engaged in a
land swap with the college for approximately 91 acres of the
Hutton Family Trust property that lies to the north of the
college and was not included in this annexation. What was
included was the remaining 13 acres to the south of the
Hutton Ranch Plaza and 52 acres to the east of the college.
The college intends to expand into this area with the bond
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 4 of 18
that was passed a few years ago.
O
Wilson said the proposed land use for this area should be
public. It is consistent with what would be anticipated by the
college and also what would be anticipated through the
growth policy.
Staff is recommending that the Planning Board adopt Staff
Report KA-05-14 as findings of fact and recommend to the
Kalispell City Council that the initial zoning for this property
should be P-1, Public upon annexation.
Further, the planning board recommends that the Kalispell
City Council encourage the Flathead Valley Community
College to initiate a zone change on the 40 acres that is
currently in the city limits from R-1 Suburban Residential, to
P-1, Public, in order to provide consistency in the zoning for
the college -owned property.
QUESTIONS BY THE Taylor asked about the current zoning of R-1 for the college
BOARD property. Jentz said at the time the zoning occurred they
looked at the growth in the Master Plan and it was
designated agriculture or residential. The zoning that would
be most compatible with the Master Plan designation was R-
1 because it was shown as an agricultural/residential fringe
on the edge of the city. In the R-1 colleges are a conditional
use.
Norton read the intent of the P-1 zone for the board which
states "A public district to provide and reserve areas for
public uses in order to preserve and provide adequate land
for a variety of community facilities which serve the public
health, safety and general welfare. Such public uses would
include schools, public buildings, parks, and open spaces,
etc." Norton said however, the only permitted uses listed are
lodges, office buildings, and parks. He said that the intent is
to have a school and then it is listed as a conditional use
which enforced the need for a revision of the zoning
ordinance. Norton said that he would rather see what they
don't want in the zones rather than what is allowed.
Wilson said she shared his frustration but added that would
probably never happen in the zoning world. Wilson said that
part of the reason that the uses are listed as conditional uses
in that zone are because they typically have a fairly high
impact and so it is intended to create a forum for public
comment by the property owners that would be most affected
by the use. It does seem a little contradictory to have that
listed as the specific intent and then make basically
everything in that district a conditional use.
Norton added then everything, whether it is permitted or
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 5 of 18
conditional, has to be reviewed. Wilson said no because if it
is a permitted use all they need is a building permit, and a
review by the Site Development Review Committee for
compliance for zoning and setbacks, parking and building
code compliance. The planning board and council would
never see it. There is a provision in the state statutes that
states that government agencies are exempt from zoning but
it does require a public hearing before the Board of
Adjustment. The Board of Adjustment is intended to act as a
forum for public comment but cannot deny or condition the
use. It does require the notification of adjoining landowners
and provides a forum for information if there are neighbors
who are concerned and also to gather information.
Hull said that when this area becomes a topic of discussion
regarding transportation and streets the board will want to
have some say.
Taylor said they have talked about a review of the growth
policy and zoning ordinance and added there is a lot of
redundancy in those documents that the board can eliminate
for future boards.
Wilson noted that this review is already on the work program
and something that the staff will be working on this winter. It
could be reviewed chapter by chapter or issue by issue but
they will obviously need the board to help with that review
before it goes to public hearing.
APPLICANT/AGENCIES Jane Karas, President of the Flathead Valley Community
College noted that she appreciates the board's consideration
of the request for P-1 zoning and also would be very willing
to initiate the recommended zone change for the remainder
of the college property, but would request that the fee be
waived for the college.
Norton asked if the college has drawn up a preliminary plan
for the use of this area. Karas said that they have a Master
Plan that was put together about 4 years ago with
community input that looked at all of the property that the
college owned at that time which included this acreage and
they do have some buildings that are a part of the bond that
will be going to the north including the Occupational Trades
building that they just broke ground for which should be
completed next summer.
Norton said that another issue that Mr. Hull touched on was
that they are trying to incorporate for future growth and
alleviate traffic problems and facilitate it for everyone and
they would encourage the college to take this into
consideration when this property is developed to make sure
that it intertwines with other arterials in the area. Karas said
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 6 of 18
that they will certainly be looking at all the transportation
issues as they develop the property.
PUBLIC HEARING
No one else wished to speak and the public hearing was
closed.
MOTION
Taylor moved and Albert seconded to adopt Staff Report KA-
05-14 as findings of fact and recommend to the Kalispell City
Council that the initial zoning for this property should be P-
1, Public upon annexation. The planning board further
recommends that the Kalispell City Council encourage the
Flathead Valley Community College to initiate a zone change
on the 40 acres that is currently in the city limits from R-1
Suburban Residential, to P-1, Public, in order to provide
consistency in the zoning for the college -owned property.
BOARD DISCUSSION
Hull noted that in the Transportation Plan there is a
provision for a street running behind Home Depot and
connecting with Grandview. The planning board doesn't have
the authority to require that, but as he understands it they
will during the conditional use permit process. Hull said
transportation will be a key element in their consideration
otherwise this area will create a block with no way to get
between West Reserve and Grandview without some kind of
provision. He added it may not be an arterial but this board
is adamant that there be a grid system and that there be
alternate ways to get around the city other than going
through the stoplights on 93.
Wilson said that as part of the bypass design off of Reserve
Drive, they have actually come in with a road that would go
east of Reserve and would come south behind Home Depot
and Hutton Ranch Plaza and connect with Hutton Ranch
Road. The main interior road will go to the new light on
Highway 93. She said that portion is already planned and
committed to by MDOT. What Mr. Hull is referring to is the
continued extension of that road which would go from East
Hutton Ranch Road through the college property and down
to Grandview Drive. Wilson said that is part of the Kalispell
Transportation Plan, has been for 15-20 years and she said
the college is aware of the necessity of the Grandview.
connection.
Norton said he fully supports that if the city is asking the
college to change the zoning on the current college property
that the fees be waived.
Wilson noted that this could be incorporated into the board's
recommendation and forwarded on to the city council.
ROLL CALL
The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 7 of 18
LIGHTING STANDARDS
ZONING TEXT
AMENDMENTS
An amendment to the Kalispell Zoning Ordinance initiated by
the City of Kalispell to amend the lighting standards. This
would amend the required full cut off standard from a 70
degree angle to an 80 degree angle and would lower the
maximum height limit from 30 feet to 25 feet, and further
recommend an administrative change to place the standards
under their own chapter in the zoning ordinance, which
would make them easier to find.
STAFF REPORT KZTA-05-7
Narda Wilson, representing the Kalispell Planning
Department presented Staff Report KZTA-05-7 for the Board.
Wilson said that when they started working with the lighting
standards after they were adopted they immediately found
some problems. There are a few minor amendments to the
lighting standards that will make them easier to administer,
more reasonable, and easier for the public to adhere to.
Wilson reviewed the amendments for the board which are as
follows:
Revising the requirement for the full cutoff lens that
does not shine 70 degrees above the horizontal plane
will be changed to 80 degrees because of problems
obtaining a 70 degree cutoff fixture.
The maximum height of a light pole is proposed to be
changed from a maximum of 30 feet in height to 25
feet in height.
Non -conforming commercial lighting is required to
replace the lens to a full cutoff lens not the light pole.
Clarification regarding how the light pole height and
the level of light are measured.
An exemption to the height limit for sports and
recreation fields.
Relocating the lighting standards in the zoning
ordinance from their current place under
"Supplemental Regulations" and place them in a
separate chapter "Outdoor Lighting Standards" so
that they are more easily accessible when using the
document.
Staff is recommending that the Planning Board adopt Staff
Report KZTA-05-7 as findings of fact and recommend to the
Kalispell City Council that the proposed amendments to the
lighting standards be adopted.
QUESTIONS BY THE
Taylor asked if the target date of September 1, 2006, which
BOARD
is the deadline set for retroactive fixtures and lamps being
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 8 of 18
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changed should be changed due to these amendments.
Wilson said the board could do that if they felt that it was
appropriate but added that the substance of the standards
haven't changed and also clarified that the standards have
already been adopted and these are amendments to those
standards.
Norton said that they have discussed city owned lights and
those provided by Flathead Electric and asked if they need to
comply by those deadlines as well. Wilson said that these
standards are for lighting on private property not lights
within the public R/W.
PUBLIC HEARING Michael Blend, 104 West Blue Grass said he is in favor of a
lighting ordinance to cut down on light pollution in the sky
and added that he appreciates the work that went into
putting these standards together. However he has concerns
with the requirement that commercial and residential lights
conform to the regulations within the stated time period.
Blend strongly feels that projects that have already been
completed should be grandfathered in because those were
the codes in place at the time of construction.
Blend referred to his project on Appleway that contains 56
units, each having two exterior lights that require photocells.
The cost of replacing those fixtures would be approximately
$5600.00, not including the cost of the electrician and the
repair of the siding for each unit. He wasn't even certain that
he could find full cut off lights with photocells in them.
Blend said that he doesn't have a problem with the
ordinance but he feels that existing properties should be
grandfathered and the standards applied to new projects or if
lighting fixtures were replaced. Blend added that this is going
to place a huge financial burden on all the residents of
Kalispell.
Blend noted that if the standards do not apply to public
R/W, the Applicability section should be amended to read,
"All residential and commercial lighting whether on private
property installed in the city limits of Kalispell shall comply
with the requirements and specifications established with
these regulations." The word public should be deleted. Blend
had a few other amendments that were already being
proposed.
Todd Foley said he is an electrical engineer for a consulting
firm in town and has been practicing for about 11 years. He
is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and a small
business owner. Foley read the definition of a full cut off
fixture which is a light fixture that emits 0 degrees of light
above 90 degrees, , and 10 percent above 80 degrees
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 9 of 18
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horizontal, and noted it. isn't quite how the amendment
reads.
Foley said regarding pole height his experience tells him that
what the city is doing by lowering the poles is making this
more of a problem in terms of light trespass and dark skies
staying dark. If you bring a light fixture closer to the ground
you are going to have more light reflecting up in to the sky.
The higher the pole is the less light that is going to have to be
reflected off the ground. Every surface is a reflective surface
and if there are a bunch of fixtures to accommodate for the
lower poles there is a bunch of light bouncing off the ground
from 25 feet v. 30 or 40 or 50 feet. The IES recommends a
10-1 ratio of uniformity that is the point where a distraction
is noticeable to motorists and by lowering the pole you will
create more distractions than you will if you have a more
diffused light from 30 or 40 or 50 feet. Foley said that it
might be more effective if the standards were written to
accommodate more of an amount of lumens per acre v.
limiting the height. Wilson asked Foley for a copy of the
definition of the full cut off fixture, which Foley provided.
Mark Paulson, 1045 Third Avenue, West and President of the
Big Sky Astronomy Club said that he works with Mr. Foley at
Morrison-Maierle, in the civil department. Paulson said that
he echoes Mr. Foley's concerns about pole height. From an
esthetic point of view, a 25 foot pole is better than a 30 or 35
or 40 foot pole, but from a practicality standpoint restricting
the height of the poles to a maximum of 25 feet is the wrong
approach. Paulson said he was glad that the city council
approved the standards but felt that they were adopted too
quickly. Paulson doesn't want to see amendments to these
standards brought up to the planning board every 3 or 4
months for the next 3 or 4 years. He suggested forming a
working group consisting of a representative or 2 from the
board, Tom Jentz, Narda Wilson, and some electrical
engineers from around the valley, to rework some of the
areas in the lighting ordinance.
Paulson said that he shared the concerns of Mr. Blend but
added that he found a full cut off fixture with a photocell on
it for $30.00 at Lowe's. He added that the savings in
electrical costs will eventually pay for the cost of the fixture.
Paulson added the he also installed the full cut off fixture on
his porch and he has more light illuminating his front yard
and walkway than he did with the 40 watt incandescent
light.
Terry Dahlquist, registered professional engineer practicing
at Morrison-Maierle said that he also has concerns about the
pole height. Dahlquist stated that 75% of all pedestrian
accidents that happen in parking lots are trips and falls, and
in the lots there is mixing of pedestrian and vehicular traffic
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 10 of 18
that you don't have anywhere else. He sees one of the
problems with having low light on a short pole is that you are
going to get more shadowing from the vehicles parked
around the lot, which will increase the risk of hazard to
people walking around. IES publishes the Recommended
Practice #20 that recommends to minimize shadowing,
putting in taller poles. He has some real serious concerns
about the 25 foot pole.
No one else wishing to speak the public hearing was closed.
BOARD DISCUSSION Norton asked if it would be appropriate for staff to withdraw
this item from the agenda before the motion is made and
table it. Wilson noted that it would be appropriate to make a
motion first and have board discussion, then if the board is
interested in holding a work session on the amendments it
could be tabled to a specific date.
MOTION Taylor moved and Norton seconded to adopt Staff Report
KZTA-05-7 as findings of fact and recommend to the
Kalispell City Council that the proposed amendments to the
lighting standards be adopted.
BOARD DISCUSSION Norton said that they knew that this would be a working
document and they had a lot of input and tried to do their
due diligence. He added the board members are not electrical
engineers and the information presented tonight he thinks is
pertinent. He suggested that a work session be held to
discuss this further, inviting the members of the audience
who spoke and asked them to provide some additional
documentation to the board for review.
Taylor said that if there is a work session held, staff will
contact the audience members to notify them. The board
would look forward to their input.
Hull and Albert agreed that the amendments should be
tabled and a work session be held.
Hinchey said that he thinks that the lighting standards are a
good document but he is fine with tabling it and working out
the details.
Schutt asked what is driving the change from 30 feet to 25
feet. Wilson said that they did some research on some of the
other ordinances that dealt with lighting and found that 25
feet was a consistent pole height. Schutt said that he is
satisfied with the amendments and would like to proceed
with them as proposed tonight.
Hinchey asked if this has been studied by other
municipalities are we trying to reinvent the wheel. He agrees
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 11 of 18
C
that they have a good document and suggested trying them
out for 12 months and see how they work.
Taylor said they have nothing to lose except maybe an hour
of their time. The comments brought up tonight should be
considered at a work session.
Norton said that it wasn't just the pole height but also Mr.
Blend mentioned the code aspect which is one thing that he
hadn't considered. Norton said that he agrees with Mr.
Paulson that he doesn't want to revisit these standards every
3 months.
It was agreed that the work session be held on Tuesday,
October 25th at 7:00 p.m. in the city council chambers.
Wilson noted that the amendments would then be placed
under old business on November 8+h, the board would take
public comment on them at the beginning of the meeting,
although it would not be advertised as a formal public
hearing. Wilson added that there are others in the
community who may have a heightened interest in this issue,
and she suggested that they invite them to the work session.
Wilson said that it would be good to get comments in writing
to be presented to the board ahead of time.
MOTION TO TABLE
Taylor moved and Schutt seconded to table the amendments
to the Lighting Standards until November 8, 2005, and hold
a work session on October 25, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. in the city
council chambers, not to exceed 2 hours.
ROLL CALL
The motion passed on a vote of 5 to 1 with Hinchey voting in
opposition.
HIGHWAY 93 SOUTH
An amendment to the Kalispell Growth Policy 2020 to be
GROWTH POLICY
known as the Highway 93 South Corridor Amendment that
AMENDMENT
would expand the potential utility service area boundary
from its current location approximately one mile south of
Lower Valley Drive to a new location down to Rocky Cliff
Drive.
STAFF REPORT KGPA-05-1
Narda Wilson, representing the Kalispell Planning
Department presented Staff Report KGPA-05-1 for the Board.
Wilson reviewed the amendment to the Kalispell Growth
Policy 2020 that would expand the Potential Utility Services
Area from its existing location to Rocky Cliff Drive and to the
west and east of Highway 93 South, and the other items in
the planning board packet. The area along the Highway 93
South corridor would be designated as light industrial on the
map, the outlying areas would be designated as suburban
residential with the exception of the areas within the 100
year floodplain, which would continue to be considered as a
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 12 of 18
suburban agricultural/agricultural use.
C)
Wilson reviewed Exhibit A which deals with the issues
regarding utility extension, a grid street system, design
standards, and essentially continuing this process of looking
at the Highway 93 South corridor and phasing that area into
the Kalispell Growth Policy as is warranted. Also continued
collaboration with interested parties which would include the
property owners, Flathead County Planning Board and the
Lakeside/Somers Sewer District.
Staff is recommending that the Planning Board adopt Staff
Report KGPA-05-1 as findings of fact and approve Resolution
KGPA-05-1 amending the Kalispell Growth Policy for the
Highway 93 South Area.
QUESTIONS BY THE Taylor said that he and Mr. Norton attended the Flathead
BOARD County Planning Board meeting when they discussed this
growth policy amendment and noted that he was glad that
they went because they clarified the situation, and they want
to work together. Taylor felt that the Flathead County
Planning Board appreciated their comments.
Schutt said that they have discussed several locations for the
boundary beyond Old School Station, the first slough, the
second slough, the Highway 82 cutoff. Schutt asked what the
wisdom was for putting the Potential Utility Services Area at
Rocky Cliff which is literally the city limits now, given Old
School Station. He added they discussed the potential
problems with the unzoned county property that is next to
the border which they don't have much control or influence
over.
Wilson said that they get into more sticky use issues and
zoning issues once they foray into that unzoned area. Wilson
added that if the board wanted to change the boundary to
one-half mile beyond Rocky Cliff or maybe to Auction Road
so that the boundary is not right up against the city limits,
she would gladly forward it on to the city council.
Norton reviewed the notes from the Flathead County
Planning Board meeting for the board as follows:
Jeff Harris, the Flathead County's Planning Director, said
that he wants the discussion to include the
Lakeside/ Somers Sewer District, and his concerns were
whether Kalispell would be able to handle the sewer there
or were there other solutions that they hadn't thought of
yet such as a private wastewater treatment facility, or
even creating a regional wastewater facility jointly
between Lakeside/Somers & Kalispell. Harris wanted to
make sure that the service boundaries were set jointly,
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 13 of 18
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and acknowledged that sewer is the correct way to go for
a development in the county. Harris wanted to know if the
city of Kalispell could handle the expansion and was the
city making assumptions that they couldn't absorb the
growth that might be happening in this area. Norton
interrupted Harris (inaudible) 4 year phase for the sewer
treatment facility which is designed to add to it as is
needed and the city is looking at impact fees to handle
hooking up to city services.
Norton said that Taylor talked about Highway 93 and
traffic control and how the board didn't want stop lights
every mile or half mile, and reiterated the grid street
system.
There was a question about Somers sewer and what they
were willing or able to handle. When Norton spoke to the
President of Lakeside/ Somers Sewer District at the joint
meeting he said that they were basically interested in only
going from where their facility is now south on the east
side of the road and everything else they were not
concerned about, but that is something that has to be
discussed in the future.
Norton continued that they talked about when the county
is approving subdivisions they need to delineate the roads
going to and from that subdivision and look at them as
part of a grid street system and then everything attaches
together.
The county has funds set aside for a Transportation
Study and the road pattern, and also have a Watershed
Management Plan to see where the ground and surface
water resources are, what the availability is.
The impression that Norton got is that Harris felt the city is
rushing the county by discussing these standards and
they want to go at their own pace. Norton said that he can
totally respect that.
Norton said they asked the county when they were going
to start their design standards, and incorporate Highway
93 South into their growth policy that they are developing
now. The county wanted to wait until that was done
(growth policy) and then add the 93 South corridor
amendments into it.
Norton said they talked about design characteristics along
the highway, the property setbacks, the landscape buffers
and the county should look at any growth they have along
the 93 south corridor to incorporate the standards, and
they could look at our standards for architectural review
and such.
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 14 of 18
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Harris said that the draft for the county growth policy
would not be out until January; so that they couldn't
expect to do anything further than what they are doing
now until that date.
Norton added that this boundary was chosen because this
was the Kalispell planning boundary at one time and all the
discussion to date has been to this line. He said at the
meeting the County reiterated that they - wanted a
neighborhood plan before they went any further and it would
be a phased approach.
Wilson thought there was a misunderstanding about the
relationship between Kalispell's Growth Policy and the
county's growth policy. These boundaries and land use
designations are only there if the landowner wants to
connect to utilities and annex to the city. The county can
adopt something different, certainly it would be nice if they
would recognize those boundaries and say we would
anticipate that at some point these areas would be on city
sewer and would be annexed to the city. This shouldn't
impact their growth policy, it is not going to require an
amendment to their growth policy, and it doesn't obligate
them in any way to what the city does.
Wilson continued that Kalispell's plant investment fees will
allow the wastewater treatment plant to continue to expand
and it concerns her when she hears "Does Kalispell have the
capacity to serve this property or this area." Wilson said that
capacity is really not an issue for the city. As far as a
regional wastewater facility, it has been out there since the
Kalispell plant was converted back in the early 90's. The
utility services boundary really doesn't mean anything for the
county's growth policy and their timeline.
Wilson said she thinks that Auction Road would be a more
prudent line in the sand for the purposes of this amendment,
and the light industrial designation can continue on down.
Taylor said he supports drawing the boundary at Auction
Road and if there is any resulting friction they can take care
of it with the county. Taylor said that he thinks anything
that the board does would be regarded as in good faith.
Norton said that his only concern is that it ties in with the
Rocky Cliff Subdivision which is mostly residential with a
commercial strip along the highway. Norton doesn't
necessarily want to see all commercial along this area and
doesn't want to see car lots or something like that. Norton
feels that the boundary should be left at Rocky Cliff because
he doesn't want to hurt any rapport that has already been
created.
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 15 of 18
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PUBLIC HEARING
No one wished to speak and the public hearing was closed.
MOTION
Taylor moved and Hinchey seconded to adopt Staff Report
KGPA-05-1 as findings of fact and approve Resolution KGPA-
05-1 amending the Kalispell Growth Policy for the Highway
93 South Area.
BOARD DISCUSSION
Schutt said that if we draw this line at Auction Road or 2
sloughs down or at the White Oak intersection, all that line
brings with it is our take to what the underlying zoning and
uses will be when and if these properties are annexed to the
city. Wilson said that and the city is saying they are willing
to provide services to that area. Schutt said that as a
planning board member they should share their vision as to
where the board thinks the growth is going to be. If the
property owner to the south of that line doesn't want to
annex to the city of Kalispell he doesn't have to. Schutt said
that he understands the concern of causing problems with
the county planning board, but it seems that their job as a
planning board is to do some planning.
AMENDED MOTION -
Schutt moved seconded by Hull to amend the original motion
POTENTIAL UTILITY
to move the boundary line of the Potential Utility Services
SERVICE AREA BOUNDARY
Area to Auction Road.
AMENDMENT
BOARD DISCUSSION
Norton said that he agrees with what Schutt is saying and
there is only one reason why he doesn't want to amend the
boundary and that is this boundary was already discussed
with the county.
Taylor said it is not as though they don't have the vision but
we want to do it with the cooperation and input of the
county. The only risk is if they take this line at Auction Road
as some sort of betrayal of what we have already represented
to them.
Question was called.
ROLL CALL - POTENTIAL
The motion passed on a vote of 4 to 2 with Taylor and Norton
UTILITY SERVICES AREA
voting in opposition.
BOUNDARY AMENDMENT
BOARD DISCUSSION
Wilson asked if the board would like to discuss an
appropriate land use designation for this new area that has
been included in the growth policy amendment.
Schutt asked if they could designate the two areas of the new
county subdivision at Rocky Cliff and 93 separately. Wilson
said that they could recognize the residential portion as
suburban residential, with commercial along the highway on
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 16 of 18
U
the west side and then light industrial that aligns with Old
School Station with suburbanresidential on either side.
Taylor agreed that what is already there should be
acknowledged.
MOTION - LAND USE
Taylor moved and Schutt seconded to designate the land use
DESIGNATION
for this area as suburban residential on the west of the
highway, with commercial along the highway, acknowledging
the new county subdivision, and then light industrial that
aligns with Old School Station with suburban residential on
either side.
ROLL CALL - LAND USE
The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.
DESIGNATION
ROLL CALL - ORIGINAL
The original motion passed on a vote of 5-1 with Albert voting
MOTION
in opposition.
BOARD DISCUSSION
Hull asked when the neighborhood meeting would be held
and should it be part of the recommendation. Wilson said
that is something that the board would have to decide how
they want to handle the future meetings and future
consideration of the Highway 93 South area, and whether or
not they want to look at the area north of Kalispell where
they are also feeling some growth pressure. It is a matter of
priorities, and the council may be the one to decide those
priorities for the board if they think that the north area is
more important.
OLD BUSINESS:
Wilson noted that she provided the board with a status
report and reported that Autumn Creek was denied by city
council.
Wilson said that the first reading of the sign regulations was
approved by the city council on October 3rd with
amendments to include balloons as a permitted sign, and
also to allow streamers and strings of pennants. Also there
was an amendment to allow some additional signage in the
hospital zone. The second reading is on October 17th and
there may be another amendment or two.
NEW BUSINESS:
Jentz reported that Kelsey Subdivision on Reserve is coming
before the council again. There is a good chance that council
will approve allowing Evergreen to extend utilities to serve
the entire site. The 50 lot subdivision was in the final stages
of getting an on -site treatment facility but the Flathead
County Health Department Director is opposed to having
those proliferate throughout the county so he spoke before
city council to request that they consider allowing Kelsey,
which is partly in the Evergreen Sewer District and partly
out, to use the Evergreen sewer collection system to
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 17 of 18
transport its sewage down to Kalispell. It will still be a county
subdivision. The city will have the option of annexing that
subdivision at any time and if the city were to extend a trunk
line in that area they could hook up Kelsey and take over the
subdivision without any contest or questions. Then the lines
and the entire system would be in the city of Kalispell and
their collection system. Ownership of the lines is what is
bogging down the project.
ADJOURNMENT I The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:20 p.m.
A work session will be held on October 25, 2005, at 7:00
p.m. in the City Council Chambers to discuss amendments
to the lighting standards.
The next regular meeting of the Kalispell City Planning
Board and Zoning Commission will be held on Tuesday,
November 8, 2005.
George o Michelle Anderson
ent Recording Secretary
APPROVED as submitt /corrected: �l / is 0 / O5
Kalispell City Planning Board
Minutes of the meeting of October 11, 2005
Page 18 of 18
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October 7, 2005
Y &. Don Hines
President, p'lathead County Pkmr ng Board.
Kalispell, MT 59901
Dear Mr. Hines,
With the expansion of all three city Ifinits at a very rapid pace, severe&l planning and
zoning issues are becoming more and more prevalent which necessitates the reed for all
three boards to work closer in all .stages of planning and review.
-Many of the decision =de by the city boards are leaving voids. in county jurisdiction
because the review processes are only directed at the interests of the city and not
accommodating nor nia"ag conditions with future expansion in mind.
Case in point: Glacier Conimns was a subdivision annexed .and approved by the City of
Kalispell off Whitefish Stage Road. In the course ofreview, no avenue was made for aqv
further expamion to the west on Country Way South to hook up to any existing services.
The City of Kalispell overlook conditioning, the plat for easements to access any of the
n city services which the county planning and zoning office would have required a
\ / developer to do.
This oversight is not limited to just services. Street plugs would be a means by which the
city could condition plats for road access and provide the necrssaq interconnectivity to
bring neighborhood plans together and allow flow through subutban trade.
These issues are also landlocldgg parcels in county jurisdiction in zoning designations
that are not compatible, with surrounding uses. The Three Mile Drive area is another
oxanTle. 'There is an AG-80 designation of county jurisdiction with the City of %Iisspell
:uound four sides. The city pin.nni�;g could condition all of those subdivision so that, in
the eventuality thdi those AG-80 parcels are required to hook up to city sen�ces, the
easements are in place when the time comes.
No one on tlils board would lave ever predicted the growth on'Throe Mill- D we. TIC
Quarter Horgo Estates project that this board ravizwed five years ago, could have be -en a
model subdivision for transition from county to city services had a closer working
relationship existed between planning boards.
I write this l-ater not ion thµ spirit of-rrkicism but rather as a surveyor who pia i g
issues that need, in my opinion, attention at the board leve.Lc,,