04-09-85 Planning BoardKALISPELL CITY -COUNTY PLANNING BOARD - APRIL 9, 1985
CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Virginia Sloan, acting temporary
AND ROLL CALL president, at 9:12 p.m. Those present were Sloan, Trippett, Hall,
Crick, LeDuc, Manning, and Santa with Stephens and Reynolds being
absent. Others present included Nakul Verma, planning director, and
David Greer, senior planner.
APPROVAL OF Trippett moved that the minutes of March 12, 1985 be approved as
MINUTES submitted and Manning seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
ELECTION OF Sloan opened the floor to nominations for president. Manning was
PRESIDENT nominated but he declined due to being a member of the City Council.
It was pointed out that next month the Kalispell City -County Planning
Board and the Kalispell City Zoning Commission would be one board.
Verma suggested that..the election of the president be postponed until
the next meeting when the'�Boards will be united.
Motion Trippett moved that the election of president be tabled until the next
regular meeting on May 14, 1985. It was seconded by LeDuc and passed
unanimously.
WORK PROGRAM Verma gave a brief background on the reasons for discussing the work
1985-1986 program for the next fiscal year and presenting it to the Countywide
Administrative Board. Many of the new members of the Board were
unfamiliar with the procedure.
Verma suggest the following project priorities:
1. Extra -Territorial Zoning in areas up to two miles surrounding
the City of Kalispell. He stated that the County Commissioners
have formally requested that this Board look into possibly
zoning the land adjacent to the city and suggesting what types
of zones would be suitable.
2. Continuation of the work on the Kalispell City -County Master
Plan since the Board has yet to make a recommendation to both
the City Council and the County Commissioners.
3. Have the annexation committee look into areas that are sur-
rounded by the City, but remain in the County, and see about
annexing these into the City. Manning stated that there was only
one area that could be looked at by the City and the City
Attorney was now looking into preparing the ordinance for the
annexation of that property.
4. The possibility of reducing the number of zones contained in the
zoning ordinance of Kalispell. Manning explained that the City
has approximately 32 zones and that it needs to be narrowed down
to 8 or 10 zones. Previously when this subject was brought up to
the City Council, they would not consider it because they did
not want to have to rewrite the text and set up public hearings
on each zone proposal. Manning further suggested that the proper
way to approach it would be to pyramid the zones, incorporating
the same boundary lines and just including uses from one zone
into another. Verma explained that in about 1980, the City had
�i about 5 or 6 zoning classifications. The County had hired a
Consulting Firm to prepare zoning regulations. The consulting
firm had a set of model zoning regulations which could apply
anywhere. Somebody had suggested that the City adopt it. It was
subsequently adopted and then the Redevelopment area wanted to
have their own distinctions which were overlayed. Manning felt
that now would be a good time to approach it with minor changes
in the text and redoing the map. This would probably require
only two public hearings. Trippett stated that he would favor of
working on this project.
Hall asked if there was a way that this Board could gain some -credi-
bility?
Manning stated that this Board doesn't hold the public hearing and
they operate only on staff recommendations. After further discussion,
Verma asked if they thought that the Board should require public
hearings at the zoning commission level? Verma further stated that,
according to State law, the governing body or its representative will
hold the public hearing in regards to subdivisions, etc. The other
three boards are currently acting as the agent for the governing body
and holding the public hearings, thereby taking some of the political
pressure off of the council. The Kalispell Board is the only board .
that does not do this. Verma further stated that the concept of
establishing the Planning Board was to do the homework for the
Council. Because the Council meetings for all three cities are held on
the same nights, it is impossible for the staff to go to the Council
meetings.
Verma stated that he was planning to have a work session of the Board
to discuss the proposed Kalispell City -County Master Plan which is
ready to have some final changes made and a recommendation from this
Board to be sent to both the City Council and the County Commis-
sioners. He further stated that the Comprehensive Plan is considered
legally by the Supreme Court as a local policy statement. Manning
suggested that perhaps a work session that included the City Council
would be of benefit to this Board. Verma stated that he could have the
meeting on either the 22nd or 23rd of April. Manning stated that he
would bring it up at the next City Council meeting through the
Annexation Committee, and arrange to have the City Council invite the
Planning Board to a committee of the whole work session.
Manning stated that this Board should look at there being an educa-
tional program held in Kalispell for all the Planning Boards, City
Councils, and County Commissioners covering the basic planning prin-
ciples and learn what planning was all about.
Sloan stated that she didn't feel comfortable with making a lot of
these decisions due to a lack of knowledge. She felt that the Board
didn't know a lot about planning essentials and felt that they did a
lot of reacting.
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After further discussion, the Board concurred that their proposed.work
program for fiscal year 1985-1986 would include completing the up -date
of the Comprehensive Plan, looking at Extra -Territorial Zoning imme-
diately surrounding the City Limits, and proposing a reduction in the
number of zones in the City of Kalispell.
OLD BUSINESS None.
NEW BUSINESS. None.
ADJOURNMENT The pmeet}ng was adjourned at 10:22 p.m.
Presiding Officer - Vigin4--
Sloan
Temporary President
Approved: k n/ld;� A /C8s"
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Recording Secretary - Ava Walters