10-12-89 Planning BoardKALISPELL CITY -COUNTY PLANNING BOARD AND ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
OCTOBER 12, 1989
CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order by Charles Manning, President, at 7:00
AND ROLL CALL p.m. Those present were Manning, Sloan, Carothers, Furlong, Hall,
Stephens, and Hash. Those absent were Fraser and Robbins. David
Greer, Senior Planner, represented the Flathead Regional Development
Office.
APPROVAL OF MIN- Carothers moved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on
UTES SEPTEMBER 12 September 12, 1989. Hash seconded the motion and it passed
1989 unanimously..
SITE ACCESS PLAN Manning introduced the presentation by Clete Daily concerning the
"Site Access Plan" on U.S. 93 north of Kalispell.
Daily introduced the draft of the "Access" report saying that the
final report would become available in another month or two. He
stated that the staff has spent about six months collecting data for
a two and one-half mile section of the highway and every intersection
in that area. The direction of traffic for the Community College was
done by checking the zip codes of employees, teachers, administration
and students of the college. They determined how many trips per
student and other personnel of the college would be made per day.
Daily found that the traffic on U.S. 93 in the study area will
essentially double when the area becomes developed. The firm of Clete
Daily and Associates also looked at possible alternate routes of
travel in the area. Barriers exist that had to be considered such as
topography and floodplain. Daily felt that in adding this information
all together (land use, pending development, existing routes, etc.).
has created a report showing the best alternate transportation
avenues and proposed ways to improve the situation that will soon
exist. He felt that this plan, if followed, should make Highway 93
function for the next 20 years. The report makes 21 recommendations.
Hall asked how much it costs to install a traffic signal such as the
one recommended for Grandview Drive? Daily said that it costs
$70,000.
Daily stated that the first recommendation of three signals, one
located at Conway, Sunnyview Lane and Meridian Road, is being
programmed now. A very dangerous situation that exists now is that
people are using the shoulder to make their right turns off of
Highway 93 and pedestrians and bicyclists also use the shoulder.
Therefore, Daily recommended a right deceleration lane to be
installed. This lane would be from 430 feet south of Conway Drive to
Meridian Road. He further recommended that a right turn lane be
installed on Conway Drive, Sunnyview Lane, and Grandview Drive where
they intersect with Highway 93. He hoped that these improvements
could be implemented concurrently with the signalization.
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~) Questions arose concerning the apparent proposal to develop a roadway
on the east side of the college location north to West Reserve Drive.
Daily stated that is a very long range proposal but is put in there
so that the Planning Board could, as property develops in the area,
require a road right-of-way and provision for the eventual
construction of that proposal.
Sloan felt that the minute the college opens its doors there should
be a traffic signal in place on Grandview Drive. Daily agreed but a
need has to be proven first before a permanent signal is placed.
Daily felt that it might be possible to get a temporary signal
placed.
Carothers asked if the Board should be active in making the request
for the placement of that temporary signal. Daily felt that would be
appropriate after the report becomes a matter of record. Daily stated
that the next step will be the public hearing at next month's
planning board meeting.
Daily felt that Meridian Road should be extended over to Windward Way
since a signal is proposed at Meridian Road and to make the best
utilization of the circulation situation. Without the extension, the
signal would be located on a three-legged intersection.
Greer asked about the utilization of the substandard roads of
Windward Way and Grandview Drive and why the report does not address
needed road design and improvements. Daily stated that those streets
are city streets or county roads and those entities would need to
address those road improvements. Daily stated that the Planning Board
should try to get developers to participate in improving their road
systems and also to require the installation of required road systems
when new subdivisions are proposed.
Greer asked why Daily thought the property west of Highway 93 would
develop? Daily stated that the road placed one mile west of Highway
93 is provided in the event of future development. Daily added that
the suggested route is extremely long-range. Greer noted that the
subject area is zoned agriculture and in state ownership.
Greer asked why Daily closes the door on spanning the Stillwater
River from West Evergreen Drive over to Grandview Drive in light of
the fact that there are subdivisions planned surrounding Edgerton
School and a 600 unit subdivision on West Evergreen Drive before it
intersects with Whitefish Stage. Greer added that, once developed,
those people are going to need a way out and Whitefish Stage will
never be able to handle the demand. Daily stated that the cost to
span the river and the accompanying floodplain is greater than is
going to be the capacity of the secondary route system to handle.
Daily did add that he would not have to be quite so definite in
closing the door to that possibility.
Furlong questioned the local funding of developing Windward Way and
Grandview Drive and that they should be put on the secondary or urban
system. The extension of Meridian Road might put it on the urban
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system. Daily agreed that it might be possible to link with the
system. Daily added that it might be possible to extend Meridian to
Windward Way when that intersection is signalized.
Sloan felt there should be bikeways and pedestrian lanes.
Representative of the Flathead Valley Community College Board of
Trustees stated that the college has taken an option on land north of
the current college property and north of the proposed north access
to the college. This was done anticipating the need for expansion and
because there is the desire of the Board to use the north access as
the primary access to the college. Daily commented that the width of
the college road is inadequate and that the north road may be usable
for right turns only out of the college. Daily said that he would
take a look at that option. Someone else commented that stopping for
a signal would be easier in the winter at the north access to the
college rather than at Grandview Drive which intersects the highway
where the highway is still on a descending slope. It was thought
there might be fewer traffic hazards at the north access rather than
at Grandview Drive.
Stephens suggested putting in foot and bike paths that span the
Stillwater River for those students who would be using those methods
of accessing the college from the Whitefish Stage area. Daily also
asked if the Board felt the report should include the cost of
spanning the river at West Evergreen Drive. Greer felt that Daily
should speak to the spanning of the river in terms of the advantages.
Someone in the audience, who lives in the area of the West Evergreen
extension, felt that there should not be a bridge over the river at
West Evergreen Drive.
Greer reminded the Board that the public hearing will be held next
month for this report. Daily concluded by telling the Board that he
would respond to these comments at the next meeting.
OLD BUSINESS Greer stated that he would have some of the draft completed for the
Kalispell Zoning Ordinance.
NEW BUSINESS None.
ADJOURNMENT Furlong moved to adjourn the meeting and Hash seconded the motion.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:09 p.m.
Lal"=:� -
Charles Manni g, Pre ' nt Ava Walters, Recording Secretary
Approved:
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