12-09-86 Planning BoardKALISPELL CITY -COUNTY PLANNING BOARD AND ZONING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
DECEMBER 9, 1986
CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by President Charles Manning at 7:35
AND ROLL CALL p.m. Those present were Trippett, Manning, Reynolds, Gunnerson, Hall,
Treweek, and Stephens. Those absent were Sloan and LeDuc. David
Greer, Senior Planner at the Flathead Regional Development Office,
was also present.
APPROVAL OF MIN- Reynolds moved to approve the minutes of the November 13, 1986
UTES OF NOVEMBER meeting as submitted. Trippet seconded the motion and it passed
13, 1986 unanimously.
SIGN REGULATIONS Manning introduced the agenda topic: Discussion of strategies and
procedures for initiating the preparation of sign regulations for the
City of Kalispell. He called on Greer to give a staff report.
Greer stated that last year the Board had decided to include in their
work program the preparation of a sign ordinance for Kalispell. The
work program was to go to the Countywide Administrative Board but was
never reviewed by them and was, never adopted. But last month the
Board requested that this project be pursued anyway. Therefore, the
Staff has come up with some strategies for starting this process.
Last fall the Kalispell Development Corporation and the Chamber of
Commerce were asked if they were interested and they both responded
that they would be interested in being involved. This will not be an
easy task as there are a lot of things to be considered. Some of the
general issues to be considered are as follows:
1. Jurisdictional Application
a. City-wide
b. City-wide with specific criteria for designated areas
2. Signs exempt from review and regulations.
3. Prohibited categories of signs.
4. Permitted locations of signs.
5. Allowable types and numbers of signs per business.
6. Scale, shape, design of permitted signs.
7. Lighting standards.
8. Construction standards.
((' \ 9. Desing review committee.
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10. Amortization Schedules.
11. Non —conformity of existing signs.
12. Permit application procedures.
13. Compliance procedures.
14. Enforcement.
Greer stated that he recommends that there be an ad hoc committee set
up in order to work out the issues and then bring their
recommendations to the Planning Board. He suggested that the
committee would be represented by all of the special interest groups
and others that would have an interest in sign regulations. Greer
stated he has contacted various individuals to see if they would be
interested in serving on this committee. He suggested the following:
A member of the Kalispell City —County Planning Board
Nick Haren of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce
Ross Plambeck of the Kalispell Development Corporation
Larry McCrae of the Montana Innkeepers
Gordon Pirrie of the Uptown Merchants Association
James Vidal, local attorney
Tom Samuel of City Architecture Review Committee
Tim Dowell of the Certified Cities Program
A member of the Kalispell City Council
Gary Hoxmer of Western Neon
Or Steve Fromm of Northwest Electric Sign
Stephens stated that a sign ordinance should come from the people
that are involved. He felt that this was a good approach.
Trippet.stated that there was a committee before in the 1970's and
that Gary Collier had worked on it at that time. He asked Gary
Collier if he had any comments.
Collier stated that he was on a sign committee for the Chamber of
Commerce for about one year and it was determined at that time that
it would not serve a good purpose. He stated that even before that
Steven Petrini of the old APO got this thing going then. He stated
that when the County Comprehensive Plan was being proposed there was
a motion at the Eagle's Hall which was passed that said there would
never be a sign ordinance as part of the Comprehensive Plan for the
City or the County. He stated that he felt that the sign ordinance
would create an impossible situation and put regulations on the sign
companies that are hard to comply with.
Hall felt that the cost involved in policing the sign ordinance would
be prohibitive. He felt that the line needed to be drawn somewhere.
Trippet stated that he was opposed to the City having a sign
r. ,1 ordinance saying that this was just another step in the creeping
\J paralysis.
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Reynolds felt that it has been self -policed long enough and was not
sure whether he wanted to add to the load. He thought there were
other things that are more important to be considering.
Gunnerson asked why. the Planning Board needed to be involved with it.
Manning stated that this is an issue that has been discussed for
sometime. He added that it is his philosophy that it should come from
the sign people and those involved. He also pointed out that there is
a sign ordinance in the County Zoning Regulations and, whenever a
county zone is adopted in the extra -territorial area, a sign
ordinance is also adopted. Greer confirmed this. On this basis,
Manning stated that the only place to dovetail a sign ordinance would
be with the zoning ordinance. The entire city should be looked at
rather than just the central business district. Trippet agreed that
it should be city-wide. Manning asked for a copy of the minutes of
that meeting, that Gary Collier alluded to, to find out what was
said. He favored an ad hoc committee looking at it finding out if
there is support for this.
Motion Trippet moved that the city -county planning board look into issues
pertaining to sign regulations. Discussion followed and Trippet
withdrew his motion for lack of a second.
Collier stated that in previous instances no one has come forward
saying that a sign ordinance is needed.
Greer stated that it seemed that the Board was second guessing what
the outcome of this ordinance would be. There are so many
flexibilities with a sign ordinance and existing signs can continue
to exist under a grandfather clause. The choices available are not
known until you start working through it. He added that in calling
various people to serve on an ad hoc committee some expressed their
feeling that there is a need for a sign ordinance. He suggested that
an ad hoc committee be set up and let them suggest whether it should
be pursued or not.
Motion Hall moved that an ad hoc be formed under the jurisdiction of the
Kalispell City -County Planning Board and Zoning Commission to review
the need only for a sign ordinance with a strict look at the
economics of such an ordinance. Trippet seconded the motion and it.
Stephens asked if a time frame should be stated. Hall stated that he
would add to his motion that the ad hoc committee should report back
in three months to the Board. Trippet accepted the amendment and
seconded the amendment to the motion. Question was called on the
amendment to motion and it passed unanimously. Question was called on
the main motion and it passed by a majority of those present with
Trippet voting nay on the motion.
Motion Trippet moved to nominate Brent Hall to represent the Kalispell City -
County Planning Board and Zoning Commission on this ad hoc committee.
Gunnerson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
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Motion Hall moved to ask Gary Collier from the sign companies to serve on
the committee. Collier accepted. The board appointed him.
The Board further selected the following people to serve on the
committee in addition to the above two named individuals:
Nick Haren
Larry McCrae
Ross Plambeck
James E. Vidal
Tom Samuel
Tim Dowell
Motion
Trippet moved to include representatives of all the major sign
Steve Fromm, on the ad
companies, which would include Gary Hoxmer and
the motion and it passed
hoc committee. Reynolds seconded
unanimously.
Manning asked Greer to inform these people and get a meeting going.
Motion
Reynolds moved that all of the above named people be asked to serve
the motion and it passed
on the ad hoc committee. Treweek seconded
unanimously.
REDUCTION OF
Manning introduced the next agenda item: Discussion of strategies
in
ZONES
and procedures for reducing the number of zoning classifications
from Greer.
the City of Kalispell. He asked for a report
Greer stated that there are over 30 zoning districts in the city of
the City Attorney and they
Kalispell. He stated that he has talked to
Pandora's Box. They feel that they would like
do not want to open up
to blend these zones and not create different zones. He recommended
that the approach to use is to try to take the zones that exist in
that exist
the Downtown Redevelopment Area and try to merge the zones
be reduced to about
outside that area into those zones so that it can
take the table of uses that are
13 zones. One way to do this is to
included in the Kalispell Zoning Regulations and compare this with
the uses in the Downtown Zones and then come back with a
be changed
recommendation on how these zoning designations can
He felt that it
without changing the zoning of various properties.
f easible task and felt that by next month he could have a more
was a
complete report of what would be involved.
Manning asked Greer if he knew how many public hearings it might take
to blend the zoning classifications? Greer stated that there might
have to be two or three zone classifications combined into one zone
c;assification. He felt that one firm recommendation. The Board would
not be required to hold a public hearing unless it became very
complicated. He felt that one recommendation might cover it.
BOARD TERM Manning int d the membersdiscussion
recomme elation upcoming of term
individualsexpirations
for
of
EXPIRATIONS five (5) Board
{�1 appointment to the Board.
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Those terms expiring are Hall, Gunnerson, LeDuc, Stephens, and Sloan.
Greer explained that even though Hall lives in the City he can
represent the County because he is a citizen member whereas LeDuc has
to live in the County because he is an official member. Greer stated
that Sloan has expressed an interest in continuing but that he has
not talked to LeDuc.
Greer suggested that the member -at -large could be voted on right now.
Trippet disagreed with the suggestion saying that the member -at -large
had to be voted on by the entire Board and there would not be a full
board until next month as well as that person needed to be approved
by the County and City. Manning asked if there is some way to get
approval of the selection from the County and the City by the next
meeting. Greer stated that the easiest way would be to vote on it
right now. Manning agreed.
Motion Trippet moved to elect John Gunnerson to be the member -at -large for
the coming year. Reynolds seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
PROPOSED ZONING Manning introduced the next item on the agenda: Review of proposed
DISTRICT BOUND- zoning district boundaries for an area east and south of the
ARIES OUTSIDE the Kalispell City limits.
CITY LIMITS
Greer suggested that next month there should be another informational
meeting and at that time make available to the public some specific
proposals on boundaries for zoning classifications in this area. It
will give the people an opportunity to look at what is proposed.
This will give them a chance to ask more specific questions.
Trippet stated that some of the property owners were present who
reside in the area of Four Corners. He and Manning suggested that
they come forward and look at the map. Trippet stated that there is
quite a pocket of diverse uses in that area. He also stated that most
of those businesses in that area are actually light industrial and
residential when it is being proposed to be commercial. One of the
owners felt that most of them would be non -conforming and therefore
would not be able to expand or rebuild once the area was zoned
commercial. Trippet suggested that these people in this area should
come in with a petition to zone the area as light industrial. One of
the land owners stated that on his property he harvested hay on a
portion of the property, has five mobile homes and five businesses on
the property. How would you classify this property into a zone? He
did not want to be zoned any classification. He felt that the
neighbors next to him should tell him if he is doing something that
offends them but not someone ten miles away. One of the other
landowners suggested that to zone the property differently than it is
being used was wrong. Trippet stated that he thought to zone it the
way it is being used would be contrary to the Master Plan.
Greer stated that this is all up for review so that everyone can have
their say in this. Manning added that this is being done at the
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request of the County Commissioners. He further added that the Board
� is only a fact finding body and will make a recommendation to the
1\ i1 County Commissioners. Manning also stated that if they had a specific
zoning request they could petition the County Commissioners.
Greer explained the meaning of non -conforming use in a zone. He also
added that when an area is given a zoning classification it must be
in substantial conformance to the Master Plan. If it is not going to
conform, then a Plan Amendment needs to be done. Greer also explained
that there are two separate processes for asking for zoning and
explained those processes.
Manning suggested that smaller areas be looked at at the next
informational meeting.
Motion Trippet moved to have an informational meeting in mid -January at the
H Robinson Vo-Ag Center. Hall seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
OLD BUSINESS Manning asked how progress was proceding on the Planning Conference?
Greer stated that still looking at February or March and that work
will continue on it.
Mayor Kennedy expressed his appreciation for the members of the Board
service to the Community.
tom,
NEW BUSINESS None.
ADJOURNMENT
Gunnerson moved to adjourn and Treweek seconded the motion. It passed
-a }',e meeting adjourned at 9:06 p.m.
Approved:
A
Ava Walters, Recording Secretary