11-14-89 Planning BoardKALISPELL CITY -COUNTY PLANNING BOARD AND ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
NOVEMBER 14, 1989
CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Charles Manning, President, at
AND ROLL CALL 6:00 p.m. The roll call taken included the Technical Advisory
Committee membership as well since there would be a joint meeting of
that group and the Planning Board. Those present for the Planning
Board were Manning, Stephens, Hash, Carothers, Fraser, and Furlong.
Those absent were Robbins, Sloan, and Hall. Those present for the
Technical Advisory Committee were Ken Hammer, Jim Dedman, Gene
Speelman, Steve Herzog, Stephen Herbaly, Keenan Bingham, and Larry
Brazda. Those absent were Jerry Olson, Robert Lajoie, Roger Hopkins,
Howard Gipe, Virginia Sloan, Addison Clark and Charles Rhodes. Clete
Daily, whose firm prepared the Highway 93 Access Study, attended.
David Greer, Senior Planner, represented the Flathead Regional
Development Office. There were 21 other members of the audience.
APPROVAL OF MIN- Carothers moved to approve the minutes for the meeting held on
UTES OCTOBER 12 October 12, 1989 as submitted. Stephens seconded the motion and it
1989 passed unanimously.
SITE ACCESS PLAN Manning announced that a joint meeting would be convened at this time
U.S. HIGHWAY 93 with the Technical Advisory Committee for the purpose of considering
a draft site access plan prepared by Clete Daily and Associates for a
2.11 mile section of U.S. Highway 93 extending from Conway Drive to
-� West Reserve Drive in Kalispell, Montana.
Clete Daily, of Clete Daily and Associates in Helena, began his
presentation by giving some of the statistics regarding the levels of
traffic at various intersection points in the study area and
detailing some of the methods used in gathering information. He
stated that most of the accidents take place during commuter times
and that 72% of the accidents were rear end and turning movements
types. He suggested that to reduce this statistic he is proposing
that there be some widening of streets entering U.S. 93 and widening
of U.S. 93 where these streets enter to provide for turning lanes in
order to remove the slow moving traffic from the 55 mph traffic and
to separate the left turn vehicles from the right turn vehicles on
the side streets. The greatest peak time is from 4-6 p.m. There are
approximately 600-700 vehicles on each approach to U.S. 93 during the
afternoon peak hours. The volume of traffic at Grandview is fairly
low but when the campus opens 75% (approximately 2,200 enrollment) of
the cars going to the college are predicted to use the Grandview
Drive entrance since they are coming from Kalispell. The three
signals that are being programmed currently at Conway, Sunnyview and
Meridian Road will alleviate the problem at Grandview somewhat since
some gaps in the traffic will be created with those three signals. He
further recommended that there be a signal installed at Grandview
Drive. He further recommended that Meridian Road be extended over to
Windward Way and an internal road connecting with Windward Way be
created in order to create a road system within the hospital campus
that will alleviate people from entering Highway 93 and going back
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into the hoapital area. He recommended that the fire lane that goes
j from Conway to Sunnyview be striped and used for a through route
inside the hospital campus. This would eliminate a lot of the loop
trips that are currently happening on Highway 93. He warned that in
the time it could take for the planning to become reality the traffic
could be double what it is now. The College will be the largest
contributing factor to doubling the traffic. He proposed a future
loop route from Grandview Drive to the east of the College property
following property lines north to West Reserve Drive which would
provide access to the residential areas sure to develop and another
entrance to the college campus. He did the same loop road design on
the west side of the highway behind the State Lands office providing
some idea of where a roadway could go if that area ever changes from
agricultural to residential.
Questions Manning called for questions from the audience prior to the public
hearing.
Michael Jensen, member of the FVCC Board, asked how emphatic the
lines proposed to be drawn will become once approved? He was
referring to the line drawn from the north campus entrance along the
current north property line of the college property to a currently
non-existent road east of the college property. If the property to
the north of the current college campus property were annexed to the
college, this line would then be going through the campus. Clete
Daily stated that the line is somewhat flexible. If a signal were put
at the north entrance point of the campus, the would be a loss of
efficiency in the value of the traffic signals since a signal would
probably be in place at Grandview. Therefore, this location for a
road to the east is somewhat flexible.
Stephen Herbaly stated that one of the purposes of this study is to
identify the major intersections along Highway 93 north. None of this
is currently in the Kalispell City -County Master Plan and will become
part of the plan only after more consideration is given to alternate
routes. This stage is a much more flexible area of discussion.
Michael Jensen suggested that the College Board should adjourn back
to their .regular meeting since it is scheduled to reconvene at 7:00
p.m.
Stephen Herbaly stated that the conditional use permit that has been
granted to the college is separate from the access permit given by
the Highway Department and gives only limited use of the north access
to the campus. If the access were used more than specified by the
conditional use permit, the college could be party to a law suit
resulting from any car accident at that north access location. He
suggested that the College Board review the terms of the conditional
use permit for an accurate level of use allowed on the north access
to the campus. At this point the FVCC Board left the meeting.
Jim Dedman asked if it is possible to provide a short landing at
Grandview Drive for slowing and turning and is the extension of
Grandview Drive to West Evergreen Drive eliminated? Clete Daily
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stated that he has recommended a widening of the approach and the
S extension of West Evergreen is pretty much eliminated by the cost. He
stated that he did not foresee the money being available for the next
20 years. There are many other projects that need to be done that
have higher priorities-. Mr. Dedman asked if this would help the
traffic situation? Clete Daily felt it would help quite a bit but
would generate more traffic on Whitefish Stage Road.
Public Hearing Manning opened the public hearing calling for comments from the
proponents.
Don Arthur, manager of Second Wind, felt that the Mr. Daily's
organization had done a good job and had addressed several of issues
that he had been concerned about.
David Greer introduced a letter sent to the Flathead Regional
Development Office from Joe and Diane Antonietti, residents of
Parkview Terrace. They use Indian Trail Road access to Highway 93.
There were two recommendations made by them: 1. Reduce the speed
limit to 35 mph since it is still in the city limits; and 2. Have a
traffic signal at Grandview Drive and Meridian Road.
There being no further proponents, Manning called for opponents to
comment.
There being no comments from opponents, Manning closed the public
hear i ng .
Discussion Carothers complimented Clete Daily on the plan and felt that it is a
plan he could support.
Stephen Herbaly asked that the TAC members comment on the proposed
plan.
Steve Herzog, of the Highway Department, stated that currently the
three traffic signals for the intersections of Conway, Sunnyview, and
Meridian Road have not been programmed because there is some
questions as to the need of there being a signal at Sunnyview. Clete
Daily stated that there has not been a lot of discussion about
removing that central signal but if Meridian Road can be extended and
a through road established in the Hospital complex there might be the
possibility of removing the middle signal. Mr. Herzog stated that he
did not feel that there would be a need for the middle signal if
Meridian Road could be extended and the other alternate road systems
established. Clete Daily stated that there are about the same number
of cars at each of the intersections of Conway and Sunnyview but if
there is an internal through road a lot of the traffic might be
eliminated from Sunnyview and then not warrant a traffic signal.
Jim Dedman asked what would happen to the gap situation if the signal
at Sunnyview Lane were lifted? Clete Daily felt that the two
- intersections are so close that if an internal road system is
designed and the signal at Sunnyview omitted the gap situation would
be about the same.
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�> Furlong asked if the through road Clete Daily has been referring to
was west or east of the Medical Arts Building? Clete Daily stated
that it was west of the Medical Arts Building. Mr. Furlong asked Mr.
Arthur if there were some plans being made now for development north
of the Second Wind since he indicated that development would happen
up there much sooner than expected?
Mr. Arthur stated that there are proposals in the wind but nothing
concrete and things are moving that direction. Mr Arthur further
stated that most people who are visiting the hospital and a large
share of the employees use the Sunnyview Lane approach.
Manning felt that the fire lane that is being spoken off goes between
a parking area for the Medical Arts Building and the building itself.
He asked why not put the through street to the east of the Medical
Arts Building where the gas pump is located? Clete Daily stated that
the reason was for alignment with Windward Way. Neither approach
aligns perfectly with Windward Way but the west one aligns better.
Motion Carothers moved to recommend to the Flathead County Board of
Commissioners and the Kalispell City Council approval of the U.S.
Highway 93 North Site Access Plan as presented by Clete Daily and
with the recommendations as shown on page 26 of the plan. Gene
Speelman of the TAC seconded the motion.
(� Discussion Herbaly stated that the Department of State Lands was less than
`-� favorable to the Plan since there is shown a collector street to the
west of their offices. They would not appreciate this on the final
Master Plan without a formal proposal to State Lands for official
comment and their perspective on that circulation network. They did
not have a problem with the establishment of intersection points
formally along U.S. 93. Carothers stated that this is a pretty
flexible point and, therefore, no connotation that this is totally
cast in concrete. Clete Daily stated that the main reason for showing
the road to the west of the State Lands Office was in the event that
development of the area ever did take place there would be a possible
approach to the area and to establish some intersections that
coincide with the roads across the highway. Daily suggested that he
could put a dashed line on that suggested road instead of the solid
line that currently exists. Daily suggested that he could also add a
section that would explain the purpose of the dashed line and help to
alleviate the fears of the Department of State Lands.
Hash asked that Mr. Daily show an alternate route for a through route
in the Hospital Complex as was suggested by Manning. Clete Daily said
that he would show the alternate route and include some discussion on
the choices there.
Carothers suggested that there be dashed lines on the east side of
the study area where it is a long range possibility for a route north
and south from Grandview to Reserve. Herbaly felt that since the
land owners on the east side had been talked with and given the fact
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there was a greater chance for development on that side of the
} highway it would be appropriate to leave the solid line in.
Motion Amendment Carothers amended his motion to reflect the wishes of the Department
of State Lands and the alternate route in the Hospital Complex. Gene
Speelman stated that he would second the amendment to the motion. The
motion passed unanimously of the quorum of the Planning Board present
and the membership of the TAC present.
Recess The joint meeting of the TAC and Kalispell City -County Planning Board
and Zoning Commission was adjourned upon motion by Noel Furlong and
seconded by Therese Hash. Manning recessed the meeting at 7 :25 p.m.
Therese Hash left the meeting at 7:27 p.m.
Reconvene The meeting was reconvened by Manning at 7:30 p.m.
WILLOW GLEN Manning introduced the next agenda item of a request by Kalispell
MOBILE HOME PARK Park Associates for preliminary plat approval of Willow Glen Mobile
EXPANSION PRE- Home Park Expansion, a 13-space addition to the existing Willow Glen
LIMINARY PLAT Mobile Home Parka The area of the proposed mobile home park is
located in the SE4 SE4 of Section 20, Township 28 North, Range 21
West, P.M.M., and is further described as being Tract 2 of COS No.
6152 of COS No. 6964, records of Flathead County, Montana.
Greer gave the staff report showing a plat for the subdivision on the
wall. Greer stated that the preliminary plat is a resubmittal of a
�> previously submitted and approved preliminary plat. The only reason
is that it is back before the planning board is that the previous
preliminary plat expired. The subdivision involves two acres of land
located near Twin Acres Drive south of Kalispell and lies between the
existing Willow Glen Mobile Home Park and Twin Acres Mobile Home
Park. There will be 13 spaces created by extending the road system
into a loop configuration. In order to do this loop road system two
existing mobile home spares will be last making the net increase cease in
rental spaces 11. The staff did not find any negative findings and
therefore recommended, approval of the preliminary plat with 17
conditions and that no space can be rented/leased until each of the
conditions of approval have been satisfied.
Manning asked what changes in the conditions are there this time?
Greer stated that the conditions that were omitted were references to
waiving their right to protest annexation to the city of Kalispell
since that is not seen as a possibility in the near future. '
Public Hearing Manning opened the public hearing asking for comments from the
proponents of the subdivision.
Rick Wilson, representing Kalispell Park Associates, stated that the
group owns four mobile home parks in the area and three of the four
parks are full. They feel that now is the time to expand and that
they can fill those spaces fairly quickly.
JSince there were no other proponents, Manning asked for comments from
opponents.
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There were no opponents and the public hearing was closed.
Motion Fraser moved to adopt the findings of fact as found in the FRDO Staff
Report #FPP-89-10. Carothers seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously on roll call vote.
Motion Carothers moved to recommend approval of the preliminary plat of
Willow Glen Mobile Home Park Extension with the 17 conditions as
found in the FRDO Staff Report #FPP-89-10. Fraser seconded the motion
and it passed unanimously in roll call vote.
DRAFT REVISIONS Manning asked Greer to address the next agenda item of draft
KALISPELL ZONING revisions to the Kalispell Zoning Ordinance.
ORDINANCE
Greer passed our four proposed revisions to the Kalispell Zoning
Ordinance stating that these segments represented the sections that
deal with the Board of Adjustment and their functions in the zoning
picture. He told the Board that he would be bringing more sections to
the Board each month for them to read and critique at the next Board
meeting. He suggested that the Board take these sections home and
review them before the next meeting and be prepared to make comments.
OLD BUSINESS Greer stated that he has not heard from Doug Johns yet regarding his
request for a plan amendment on the Developer's Diversified property.
He added that there is now a for sale sign there for the forty acres
and it appears that he may be trying to dispose of the property.
NEW BUSINESS None.
ADJOURNMENT Fraser moved to adjourn and it was seconded by Carothers. The meeting
was adjourned at 7:52 p.m.
Charles Manni g, F sident Ava Walters, Recording Secretary
Approved: 1�Jt",6�4�G' lei /9V,
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