03-14-00KALISPELL CITY -COUNTY PLANNING BOARD
MINUTES OF MEETING
MARCH 14, 2000
CALL TO ORDER AND Jean Johnson called the meeting to order at approximately
ROLL CALL 7:00 p.m. Members present were: Jean Johnson, Rob
Heinecke, Greg Stevens, Don Garberg, Don Mann, Don Hines,
Randy Ek, Bill Rice and Brian Sipe. Narda Wilson represented
the Flathead Regional Development Office. There were
approximately 22 people in the audience.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES On a motion by Stevens and seconded by Hines the minutes of
the meeting of February 8, 2000 were approved unanimously
as submitted. .
GLACIER VILLAGE A request for preliminary plat approval of Glacier Village
GREENS PHASE XI Greens Phase XI, a 16-lot townhouse subdivision on
PRELIMINARY PLAT approximately 2.93 acres on property zoned R-5 in Evergreen.
Sipe stepped down from the board for this application due to a
conflict of interest.
STAFF REPORT Narda Wilson of the Flathead Regional Development Office gave
a presentation on staff report FPP-00-02 in which staff
O recommends approval of the preliminary plat subject to 16
conditions. She stated that this portion of the development is
an extension of Glacier Village Greens, with the final plat of
Phase X having been recently approved. The City of Kalispell
sewer and Evergreen Water District water would serve this
development. Because this is a townhouse development it is
relatively high density. Staff therefore perceives a need for
sidewalks. Sidewalks should also be considered for future
development phases. Wilson stated that condition number
eight is a duplicate condition and should be deleted.
PUBLIC HEARING The public hearing was opened to those who wished to speak .
on the application.
PROPONENTS Rod Bitney spoke in favor of the application. He clarified that
they are within the Kalispell School District. The developer
wants to have condition three requiring sidewalks and
condition 15 requiring annexation deleted from the conditions
of approval.
George Schulz, part owner, spoke in favor of the petition
stating that the developers are against a sidewalk requirement.
He asked and Wilson answered that the City requires
annexation when City sewer serves the subdivision and
condition 15 is the same as was required for the other phases
of the development.
Garberg questioned and Bitney answered that the future
property owners are aware that at some point they will be
annexed.
Stevens suggested the wording `a waiver of the right to protest
annexation into the city' rather than a `petition to annex upon
final plat submission'.
Wilson stated that there is no form waiver of right to protest'.
When the final plat gets filed, the City of Kalispell will require a
`petition to annex' or `consent to annex" and 'withdrawal from
the rural fire department' before the City will agree to provide
sewer services. She added that it is a more affirmative
approach than waiving their right', which makes it sound like
they are giving up their rights. The only reason that this
development is occurring is because the City has agreed to
provide sewer services with the requirement that the
development be annexed at the City's discretion.
MOTION Mann moved and Rice seconded to adopt staff report FPP-00-
02 as findings of fact and, based on these findings, recommend
to the Board of County Commissioners that the preliminary
- plat for Glacier Village Greens Phase XI be approved subject to
the conditions, amended by the board as follows:
Delete condition eight and three.
Rice moved to amend the motion to leave condition three in but
strike the word `sidewalk' from the condition, Stevens
seconded.
Heinecke stated that he would like to have sidewalks included.
On a roll call vote the motion to amend the main motion
passed unanimously.
On the main motion, on a roll call vote, all members voted Aye.
The motion to recommend approval subject to amended
conditions passed by unanimous- vote.
CATTRON/BEE HIVE A request by Ron and Claudia Cattron with Bee Hive Homes for
HOMES CONDITIONAL a conditional use permit to allow the construction of two 12-
USE PERMIT bed assisted living facilities located on the west side of
Grandview Drive on property zoned RA-1.
Stevens withdrew from the board for this application due to a
potential conflict of interest.
STAFF REPORT Wilson gave a presentation on staff report KCU-00-2 in which
staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit
subject to seven conditions. Wilson stated that this proposal is
for a two phase project for two 12-person assisted living units.
Kalispell City -County Planning Board
March 14, 2000 Meeting Minutes
Page 3 of 13
would not go through and link to Indian Trail, but would end at
the parking area. He stated that they offer more personal care
than other types of facilities.
Ty Harding spoke in favor of the application stating that there
are approximately 100 Bee Hive Homes nation wide. He stated
that they blend well in a neighborhood environment.
OPPONENTS Ken Armstrong, 309 Commons Way, spoke against the facility.
He stated that he is a middle class citizen and he has invested
all of his money in his home. He stated that his home
currently has views of Big Mountain, which would be lost with
this development. He has done considerable research on the
zoning and in his opinion the report is misleading and
incorrect. He stated that this site falls outside of the master
plan high -density area and is a low -density residential area on
the master plan map. This development would have two to
eight units per acre. This site is surrounded by low density
residential and he does not see why this should be considered
as a high -density area. He stated that according to the
property development standards in the regulations this
proposal has half of the required property for a development
- this dense. He stated that it appears that even further
expansion is planned. The neighborhood is not high density
residential. The report stated that this development is low
profile but there are no 7/ 12 pitched roofs in the area. The
plan does not fit within the zoning and it violates the master
plan. He does not see how staff could recommend approval of
a project that is in such violation with the zoning.
Robert Ekblad, 319 Commons Way, spoke against the
application stating that he and his wife have each had to place
parents in a nursing home. They applaud the service that the
applicants are providing, but it does not belong in their
neighborhood. He stated that the area has narrow roads. This
project would allow for considerably more dense development
than should be allowed in the area as per the zoning.. He
stated that the developers have asked for services without
assurances of a reasonable development. He stated that
emergency access would not be adequate. He added that the
proposed design is not reasonable. He asked for the following
changes if recommended for approval:
Adopt conditions two, three and six.
Require city street standards with a turnaround within
the development.
Require a single access off of Indian Trail Road with only
emergency access off of Grandview Drive.
Kalispell City -County Planning Board
March 14, 2000 Meeting Minutes
Page 5 of 13
• Add a condition requiring an approach permit for Indian
Trail Road.
• Require a condition for approval of a landscape plan for
the sides of the property.
Require that a 24-foot driveway be designated on the
plan and that a Grandview Drive to Indian Trail link is
constructed prior to construction of the units.
The neighborhood deserves and requires these changes to the
conditions. The density problems should be looked at because
it could cause many problems in the future.
Frank Strickland, 335 Commons Way, spoke against. the
development. He stated that he is associated with Buffalo
Commons and they are planning further development in the
area. The density within the area should be followed and the
complexion should be followed. He stated that if the proposal
is allowed they could potentially have four or five of these
buildings on this site, which would be 60 units on this small
site. The complexion of this proposal is not right for the area.
This is a rural country road and a rural atmosphere. He
suggests that this development should be required to have a lot
of open space. There should be a turn around within the site.
O The development should have the primary access off of Indian
Trail Road. He is not opposed to the site being developed, but
would want better consistency with the neighborhood. This
should be a low profile development and should not have such
a high roof, which would ruin the views for the neighbors. The
density should be less and the roof should be lower pitch.
Lights in the parking lot would impose on the neighbors.
Parking is insufficient for the development. A cul-de-sac
should exist. Development should not be allowed on high
ground areas of the property due to the drainage issues.
No one else wished to speak and the public hearing was closed.
BOARD DISCUSSION Wilson stated that a dwelling unit is a building that is designed
to occupy a family unit. This development would have a single
kitchen and living area with 12 bedrooms and would not be
considered separate dwelling units. A low -density residential
district would be two dwelling units per acre. This area would
be considered a low -density "apartment" district. As far as fire
access, these buildings would be sprinkl.ered, and the fire
department did not ask for separate access. This development
would be considered the same in bulk and scale of the other
buildings in the area. The building directly to the south is an
8,000 square foot building having 40% lot coverage. This
proposal would have considerably less lot coverage than that
and would not be out of scale with what is in the area. This is
Kalispell City -County Planning Board
March 14, 2000 Meeting Minutes
Page 7 of 13
Heinecke asked how many dwelling units per acre would be
allowed in the RA-1 zone and was answered 14 units per acre.
He stated that the neighbors have swayed him and this would
be denser than should be allowed. Grandview should not be
the primary access it should be Indian Trail.
Garberg stated that he does not think that this development
fits this neighborhood. This is a good type of facility but not in
this neighborhood. This development would cause future
conflict if it goes in at this site.
MOTION Hines moved and Mann seconded to adopt staff report KCU-00-
02 as findings of fact and, based on these findings, recommend
that the Kalispell City Council grant the conditional use permit
for two 12-bed assisted living facilities subject to the seven
conditions as outlined in the report.
Johnson moved and Sipe seconded to amend the conditions by
adding condition eight to read "Under the proposed plat that
everything west of the dotted line be removed from the
application." On a roll call vote: Sipe, Hines, Mann, Johnson
- and Rice voted Aye. Heinecke, Ek and Garberg voted No. The
motion to amend passed on a vote of five in favor to three
opposed.
On a roll call vote on the main motion to approve with
amended conditions: Johnson, Rice and Mann voted Aye.
Hines, Sipe, Ek, Heinecke and Garberg voted No. The amended
motion to recommend approval of the conditional use permit
failed on a vote of three in favor and five opposed.
Johnson explained that the board would need to have a motion
to amend the staff report to support the board's views and
make a recommendation to the council.
Garberg moved and Heinecke seconded to amend the summary
of findings items one and four as follows, adopt the amended
report as findings of fact and recommend denial of the
conditional use permit.
1. The size and location of the site is inadequate mate to
accommodate the proposed use.
4. No -Negative impacts to the neighborhood can be anticipated
as a result of the construction of the facility.
On a roll call vote:
Garberg and Ek voted
amend the findings
conditional use permit
one opposed.
`l
Heinecke, Hines, Sipe, Johnson, Rice,
Aye. Mann voted No. The motion to
of fact and recommend denial of the
passed on. a vote of seven in favor and
Kalispell City -County Planning Board
March 14, 2000 Meeting Minutes
Page 9 of 13
work best for them and the community. He stated that those
areas within the floodplain could be engineered to work. They
would like to work with the board and the City to move this
project forward.
No one else wished to speak and the public hearing was closed.
BOARD DISCUSSION Stevens stated that there would be about 450 employees and
the parking does not provide enough spaces for them let alone
any clients.
Rice stated that they are working with property owners across
the street to purchase further property in order to address
additional parking. With regard to the floodplain, the buildings
that encroach into the floodplain could be addressed by
applying for a change on the floodplain map and the parking
area would be built up through a floodplain permit.
Stevens stated that there had previously been extreme
discussions on whether property within the floodplain could be
subdivided for building purposes and staff had previously been
opposed.
Rice responded by stating that the difference with this proposal
was that only a small portion of the building would be in the
floodplain and that they are not creating "lots" that would be
�J located in the 100 year floodplain as was the previous issue.
Garberg asked and Stevens -Wulf answered that this concept is
being talked about everywhere and she knows that there are
none within the western United States. Garberg stated that he
liked the concept.
Ek asked about the intersection and Stevens -Wulf answered
that there would be additional access entrances and they are in
the planning process for upgrading the access roads.
Denman stated that this would be a phased project as well so
the infrastructure will be able to be built up during the
process.
Johnson asked and Denman answered that the owners within
the development will be responsible for the maintenance of the
parking lot and all of the common areas and that there was no
dedication of public streets involved with this subdivision.
P. J. Sorenson, Kalispell Zoning Administrator, stated that a
conditional agreement has been made with the Hampton Inn,
which FEMA has approved, and this will not affect this project.
�J Johnson stated that the down side would be if the culvert
Kalispell City -County Planning Board
March 14, 2000 Meeting Minutes
Page 11 of 13
0,6Lid
Stevens suggested that the city council establish a street
district to assess for street and sidewalk improvements.
Johnson reported that the growth policy plan is with the City
Attorney and will probably come back to a joint session when
the attorney completes his comments.
ADJOURNMENT The next regular meeting will be April 11, 2000 at 7 p.m. The
meeting was adjourned by motion at approximately 10:15 p.m.
A. on, President Tn is Eat, Ro&rding Secretary
v �i�i
Approved as submitte corrected l 00
v
Kalispell City -County Planning Board
March 14, 2000 Meeting Minutes
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