07-11-787 11 78
Minutes not
available..
A regular meeting of the Kalispell City -County Planning
Board was held Tuesday, July 11, 1978 at 7:30 p.m. in'
the Flathead County CourthouseFast Community Room,
723 5th. Avenue East, Kalispell, Montana.
Members present:
W. J. Lupton
Dale W. Haarr
Bob LeD.ut
Jim Thompson
Dorothy Garvin
Fran 011endike
John Kain
Others present:
1 APO Staff Representative
Approx. 17 Guests
.President Haarr advised that the minutes were not yet
available from the last meeting so hoped that everyone
had a good recollection.
`Communications: I Steve Petrini just indicated that there was a
APO to. Brd.'of communication regarding Silver Shadows Estates,
County Commissionersindicated that a final plat had been submitted
dated 6-14-78'. Board of County Commissioners on June 14, 1978
I(copy attached).
Public Hearing:
Continuation of
Buffalo Head
Subdivision.
which
to the
President Haarr explained that this subdivision was
tabled and Steve Petrini explained that the subdivision
had been tabled in order to clarify items that had
been noted by Walt Griffin for 1. acceptibility and
qualification of 24' wide streets, with City Street
and Alley Committee, 2. lack of homeowners
responsibilities, obligations and duties in the
Covenants submitted and the architectural controls
are too unlimited, and 3. City Park Committee's
approval and possible cloud on the title for the
park property.
Steve Petrini then passed out a two page Rationale
report for implementation of the 24' road and the
park (copy attached).
Steve explained that there has been one change in the
preliminary plat over what was reviewed, 4 single
family lots in the original plan have been changed to
3 single family lots, 5,500 sq. ft. minimum lot size
is now 7,200 sq. ft.+ in the three lots.
President Haarr requested that the developer address
those items in the tabled motion and then reopened
the hearing for public discussion.
Stan Pine said he met with the Street and Park
Committees, who were both reluctant to give final
approval, and the basic conclusion of the Street
Committee was repairs, due to the fact that they
are looped and private streets. The primary question
on the Park was what Walt Griffin said that Forrest
Daly felt that there should be a park on top, and
after the meeting with his committee, the final
conclusion was that the City would be interested in
taking a portion on top with the homeowners
association taking care of the greenbelt, where the
1.
youngsters could be -seen by their parents. They indicated
that if the homeowners association wished to pay for the
equipment this was fine, but felt some property should be
dedicated to the city that they could control and as
far as the balance of the park down below, they.didn't
care that could be for adults and older children.
There was no final approval but were agreeable. The third
point was with regard to the Covenants, and .these were not
satisfied with respects to the homeowners association
and they were agreeable to adding that. Mr. Pine indicated
that he had secured a copy of the covenants and except for
leaving out the homeowners association, they were very
similar. The new covenant's are not yet redrafted, but they
would be after the meeting. Mr. Pine then read part of
the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants(taken from the
Hartt Hill Estates:)Article I. "C. Homeowners Association,.
"the residents of Buffalo Head Subdivision shall form, when
a majority of the residence are occupied, an organization
known as Buffalo Head Homeowners Association, which may be
unincorporated or a non-profit corporation, whichever the
residents elect. The Homeowners Association shall have
the authority to levy assessments against the lots in
Buffalo Head to provide necessary funds to maintain and
improve said areas and such assessments shall be enforceable
as a lien against the lot if not paid when due". He
indicated that he had deleted one sentance which regarded
"the authority to make rules and regulations regarding the
use of the Park and Buffer areas so long as such rules and
regulations are not in conflict with any rules and
regulations adopted by Flathead County or its park
board".
Mr. Pine then indicated that on Page 5 of the Buffalo Head
Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions of
Buffalo Head, Article III. Park Area Covenants was included
which was more extensive than Hartt Hill and he found no
problems with including homeowners association formation
into these Covenants.
President Haarr questioned the change in lots and Stan Pine
stated that the lots were designed with the concept in
mind and the desire was to have multi -family throughout the
development. Detached single family units are put in to
be adjacent to lots that they don't own in Parkview
Terrace, 0 lot line lots have never been done in Kalispell,
makes them a little more compatible with the area.
Looking into Parkview Terrace, what has given multi-
family housing a bad name is putting that into a single
family development where lot sizes are 7 - 9,000 sq. ft.
geared for single family development and these lots were
sized for 4 to 6 detached single family houses together.
Being that the Board had no comments to make on what
was stated, the public hearing was turned over to the
audience.
Pieter Drent, was disappointed in the fact that there
were considerable people and time spent and very little
attention was paid to the remarks and requests, and he
2.
that -the problems still involved the fact that the
single family residences were not going into the area
where they should and multi -family were butting single
family, and also the density of 6.6.d.u.p.a., was higher
than the recommended density than the 4.6 that Jim had
come up with. This was explained as gross or net density.
He stated that the area which was for the church site,
and it did not become a church site, and if this was
zoned for 6 plexes there was no guarantee in the future
that it wouldn't be 4 plexes; and -there should be some
guarantee when this plat was accepted. The Covenants are
proposed so that anything can be changed at any time,
and also they, the landowne-M, brought up the spoiling
of the view and the fact tha.tthey would like to see
single family residences in back of single family
residences and if this property didn't go for a church
site it should go for single family.
Pieter Drent also said that as for the park area, it
could some day be a beautiful one but it would take
thousands of dollars and would like to see an area of
100 x 200 for basketball courts and tennis courts, such as
there is in Northridge.
He did not feel that the any.of these things were answered.)
David Logan, 119 Indian Trail, Parkview Terrace indicated
that he was opposed to the entire development because of
the location of the multi -family. The multi -family should
be on land that won't support singlefamily, and you don't
put them on the edge.of town. Four plexes do have an
effect on the resale of existing.single family homes.
Mr —Logan also stated that if the motion was tabled and
the individual that tabled it did not bring it up then
the.Board had nothing to discuss.
Although Ray Lybeck brought up the motion, and he was
not available, President Haarr wished to know whether
they were there to follow the'Roberts Rules or were they
there to find out what was best for the community, and
they could always get Mr. Lybeck in and have him bring
the question up and have everyone come back in two weeks.
The motion did postpone it and did bring it back up at
this meeting.
Steve indicated that you could table it indefinitely
or for a certain period of timas as this was. Fran
011endike said she didn't believe there was anything in
their rules about using that procedure. As to being
defined loosely, they were conducting a public meeting,
if that would satisfy that requirement, and it is on
the agenda and the Board did intend to conduct it and
should it be postponed for the future, the time would be
shorter.
Stan Pine indicated to Pieter Drent that single family
left a greenbelt around that multi family to make it its
own complete concept, the idea.was not totally desirous
in that if they owned -the lots surrounding the balance
3.
then they could perpetuate this on and on because you
have to have a border, and then went on to explain
the various single family and multi family concepts.
Tt was stated that you don't put multi family on a
fringe area, the sprawl that way eats up more land.
Stan Pine stated that he wasn't the developer that built
all the four plexes that people were showing pictures of.
He said when you are talking about high density housing,
you are talking about 4 - 5 story downtown areas and
this is not designed :for apartments around shopping or
downtown centers. Mr. Pine once again stressed that the
density was only 4.6 d.u.p.a. considering all the open
area, and even at 6.6 d,u.p.a. there was a mild density
for this type of area, with large lots, lots of green
area and lots of park, and it is 4 times the park
area required.
With respects to the church site, Stan Pine didn't know
what guarantees could be put into this and didn`'t know
if anyone else ever had to guarantee anything like it,
but if necessary he guess he could and not trying to
deceive anyone and once the project is approved would
place them were stated with the church site basically
verbally committed.
Pieter Drent wished a guarantee for the land use that
the people who come in and not put in 14 duplexes, which
is not what the board approved.
Bruce Lutz indicated that on the final plat it indicates
the exact designation of those lots.
Steve Petrini explained that in the Staff Report it
requested a R-4 PUD zone and a PUD zone would basically
do exactly what they are saying with each lot being used
for this many units and not subject to change.
Bruce Lutz wished to have an RA-1 rather than the R-4
PUD, as the developer has to have a little economic
opportunity to change and don't want to be tied down to
all 12 story units with any covenants having height
restrictions in the single family detached.
President Haarr wished to know what zone was being
requested and Bruce Lutz indicated that they were
requesting RA-1 and Steve says nothing that he noted,
but Fran 011endi,ke. stated that Jim Mohn's Staff Report
indicated that the request should be for R-4 PUD, which
.would set the design criteria, four plex on this lot,
six on this lots, etc. Steve explained that the City
could not condition the RA-1 zoning, stating that you
put this on this lot and this on that lot.
Tf the City is made a part and party to the Covenants
then they can not be changed without the city approval,
but Steve indicated that the,City might be a party to
some parts of some covenants, but not necessarily to
all of them.
BM
President Haarr explained that the problem with this
property is no reflection on the developers and it is one
of creditability and the fact that there is housing that
looks down on this property and any other place there
probably wouldn't be any questions raised, but a lot of
people feel that they have been hurt in their present
development and this is what is being heard now and as a
planning board have to acknowledge and pass on to the
City Council, without having to bring it back two or
three times. Stan Pine indicated that he didn't want to
get stuck with R-4 land, but if there was a guarantee to
get the PUD if would be different. Everyone tries to
protect their own property;. and if you have to meet the
market at that particular time, and everything is zoned
down so fine, you are locked in.
President Haarr asked Steve Petrini to explain the
procedures and Steve explained that you take an existing
zoned piece of ground and then petition for a PUD zone,
so first you have to annex this as an R-4 PUD and then
you do stand a chance that the Council would reject it,
but first you would petition for the R-4 zone and then
PUD overthe top of it.
Jim Thompson indicated that you have to show a site plan
for every lot, along with design, etc. and that plan
may or may not be built that way at the end of five
years. Parkview Terrace,, he indicated, has a lot of
problems when it comes to multi -family because it had
nice clean lots just made for multi -family and the fault
was with the city in that R-1 permitted it and there is
a lot of multi -family in R-1 all over town and zoning
was the culpert, and he didn't feel that this was a PUD.
Pieter Drent reemph asized the fact that they didn't want
another Parkview Terrace problem.
Jim Thompson stated that if there is a land use pattern
for the ground then the city will know what is there,
and the landowners will know what is there and each will
know what the end product will be and this is what
Stan wants, a guarantee. If it can be put into the
Covenants, then the city can be a part and party to those
Covenants and any changes.
Mr. Bangman indicated that he would like to see Lots 14
.and 15 turned into single family because they are
adjoining. Stan indicated that these lots would not be
cheap, but expensive and what was going to go down there
would be quite expensive structures, and he also didn't
feel that he should have to guarantee a single family
lot adjacent to a lot that he owns, as everyone wanted
guarantees on everything, which was an impossibility,
specially seeing as he wasn't responsible for what
happened in the other subdivisions, but now is responsible
for guaranteeing everything in his.
Stan indicated that they -were -trying to maintain the
concept and give the people as much.as they could, but
not trying to bring in something that is incompatible.
5
Attached single family is very compatible with detached
single family.
Pieter Drent wished to know if he was going to build it
or sell the land. Stan said he probably wouldn't
built it, but that the Architectural Controls would
govern what went on those lots, with the city and planning
board having control over the basic concept, and the
developer should have a little control of what type of
units go on there
Mr. Logan stated that when financial problems become
involved, as in Parkview Terrace,then the lots are sold
at a ,premium and then approved with something that isn't
in the concept.
Mr. Lutz indicated that perhaps one way that would help
this situation would be to include some of the people in
Parkview Terrace on the Architectural Committee so that
they could see what was going on.
Mr. Logan stated that one individual built against the
architectural control. and by the time he was threatened
with a court suit, because what he was doing which was
contrary, his project was almost finished and then nobody
wanted to have him tear it down, so this building exists
and it is not in compliance with the Covenants and so
that is no guarantee by a Architectural Control Committee,
if somebody ignores it.
President Haarr asked for comments and discussions fro._
the Board.
John Kain wished to know if Stan felt it was good
residential land use, to which he responded it was
exceelent, and John Kain said with a 51.6% of the land
involved in a nebulous land sprawl, he didn't see it.
Stan Pine restated that the acres given as park were not
suitable for building and the church site was suitable
and more or less verbally sold.
John Kain said alright that was about 30% and would have to
go along with him to a point, and again he said there still
was fractured land sprawl. John Kain then proceeded to
illucidate on the features of a tennis court, base and
water problems involving the site.
Jim Thompson refreshed the Board with the knowledge that
the Comprehensive Plan proposed this type of high density
urban residential for this area immediately south. John
Kain understood that immediately to the south it was
basically commercial, what with the hospital, doctors,
and single family residential. Jim Thompson indicated
that this was detached single.family and basically
the density was the same, whereas Kain indicated it
was a checkerboard pattern. Mr. Lutz once again
quoted figures from all the surrounding subdivisions
and compared them with the proposal Then discussed at
great length was what made-up good land use and urban
sprawl, as defined.
Q
President Haarr inquired as to whether the Park option
with Dr. Wildgen had been resolved and Mr. Pine indicated
that as best as possible and that Dr. Wildgen planned to
at the meeting tonight but hadn't. Stan's attorney
indicated that the parcel had been sold twice within
the last 17 years and that Dr. Wildgen hadn't done
anything about it, but he was still going to visit with
this attorney about it. President.Haarr indicated that
they would have to presume that there would be no problem
with the park property. Also discussed was the fact
that there were water rights running through there that
were made. many years ago. Pieter'Drent felt this might.
make problems for the city, but Stan Pine said that it
was used for irrigation by Mr. Richards for his orchard
which was old.
'Fran 011endike indicated that she had to make a comment
about all these required guarantees and felt that it was
knatpicking, that nothing could be guaranteed except death
or taxes and you couldn't even guarantee what your
neighbor would do and felt that everyone was too demanding.
Also felt that the 5 acre park would be an invaluable
asset to the city in the future, even if it took a long
time to raise money to fix it up, the land was still there.
Dorothy Garvin wished to know if they could live with the
R-4 PUD and Stan stated that he couldn't live with that,
as a process 'as didn't feel that that was what was planned
at the time, and didn't want to end up with R-4 land,
but if this could all be done at the same time, then he
would go along with it. H e would like to live with
that as an end product but not as a beginning. Then
discussed was 'the fact that it could not be instituted
at the same time but would have to be two separate steps,
and President Haarr advised Dorothy Garvin that it would
have.to be brought in as an R-4 and the PUD would have
to be applied for and this was discussed before, and no
way that a condition could be placed that one would have
to follow the other.
.Robert LeDuc felt that something should be done so that
Mr. Pine could do his building and something to protect
these people, and wished to know if there was anyway that
the Covenants could have this written into them.
Steve Petrini advised that the Covenants could be written
to incorporate the fact that Lot 14 shall be a 3 plex
and Lot 15 shall be a 6 plex... etc. The land use could
be tied down in the Covenants to limit the number of
units on each parcel and if the city is made a part and
party to them, the city could enforce them and would
have to"be contacted with regard to any changes.
Steve stated that when reviewing the zoning ordinance
with the city they discussed the possibility of taking out
the conditional use permit on multi -family dwellins in
the RA districts but they didn't and left them in and
even though the,covenants would allow a 6 plex, he would
have to go before the Board of Adjustment for a
conditional use permit and supply a drawing at the.time
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for each unit in that RA district, because that site plan
review `is in all RA districts, a.nd that puts the city
back in a review process, and there is a process where
the public becomes involved and do have that in between
step, in a typical RA district. President Haarr felt% ,,
that was a good guarantee. This was discussed at
some length.
B. J. Lupton wished to get it off center one way or
another.
Robert LeDuc felt the park was super but unable to address
it a number of years from now and irrelevant to
discuss the long or hard time understanding of the
attached single family on Lots 14 and 15 as the same man
owns the single family lots next to them, this could be
used as a buffer zone without the knowledge that they
would have this single family buffer already there. Felt
that there had been some excellent concessions on the part
of the developer to make a good border and felt badly that
all .these people have been burned in the past and that
Lot 21 would be a likely piece of ground for a 4 plex, but
that is an area of interpetation and advised John Kain
that he did not agree with his observation that this was
and didn't now how he arrived at the fact, that it was
fractured land use., because the park land couldn't be
developed into anything, siting a number of thin-s that
could happen to it, and urban sprawl makes more sense to
talk about density in dwelling units per acre, than it
does percentage of open space by acreage. Pure
optimum land use would be high density, and not
encroaching on good agricultural use, and the density
was excellent and open space is irrelevant. John Kain
restated some of his previous percentage opposition
and statements on urban sprawl and denstty. The Board
and John Kain along with Stan Pine then discussed the
density and sprawl and percentages at length, including
the church site, which mit not remain as a church site
and then it wouldn't be the concept that the Board was
reviewing now, and John Kain felt he wasn't getting
his point across to the balance of the board. Fran.
011endike felt that. with the cost of living, that there
probably would be more and more multi -family and felt
that possibly Mr. Drent couldn't sell his house because
people within that price range were rather going into
multi -family. Then discussed was the comment of one
of the gentlemen in the audience who stated that the
hotest thing on the n.rket was the single family detached,
1/2.acre pieces, but which the Board did not feel
was good planning of the land, and then felt that the
Board was getting just into too much detail about this.
A woman in
Adjustment
noticed in
and could.
Questioned
it was 13
always the
error.
the audience wished to know if the Board of
was a public meeting and whether it could be
the newspaper and was advised that it was
also was the difference
or 14 four plexes and was
same on the plat and was
between whether
advised it was
a typographical
President Haarr indicated that they were prepared to
accept a motion, and felt that those lots designated
single family should remain unchanged through Covenants.
The Board felt that it was necessary on behalf of the
community, and that legally and officially tie this final
plan into the governing body and should they want to
change all the community should have the opportunity to re-
view what was being proposed, and indicated that it should
be .the governing body, which in this instance was the
City Council, as a part and party to them.The Board
of Adjustment would•then be looking only at each
individual site planin order to grant a Conditional Use
and the City Council was to be involved in any changes in
the Covenants.
The Board then discussed once again extensively the fact
that 24' streets were proposed in place of 38', with all
the pros and cons, access, chuck holes, city street
standards, private maintenance and garage -driveway
approaches. They also discussed multi -family as it
related to individual lots.
President Haarr wished to know what type of study had
been done regarding the storm drainage'. He indicated
that he didn't feel he could. address this and the
developer didn't feel that in the preliminary stage he
should have to completely engineer out this portion until
l he received preliminary approval.
J Jim Thompson stated that in the conditions for preliminary
approval that it he stated that the city grant variance
to the 24' wide private roadway and that they become a
part and party to the covenants. The Board didn't feel
that they were in a position to grant a variance on the
street width, as none had any expertise in that field.
President Haarr and the Board then discussed those
conditions to be submitted prior to the motion being
made.
Fran 011endike moved that the Kalispell City -County
Planning Board recommend preliminary approval to the
Kalispell City Council with the following conditions:
1. That all water, sewer and storm drain systems be
approved by the State Dept. of Health and the City of
Kalispell,
2. that the developer limits the units within the
existing plan to single family detached and single family
"Townhouse" units in the design concept as submitted;
and petition the City for RA-1 zoning in accordance with
the new City Ordinance,
3. that in addition to the covenants submitted, the
developer prepare for recording; the homeowners
association documents to provide for exterior maintenance
of grounds, open space, structures, private roadways,
and garbage collection,
9.
Proposed Public Hrg.
for 7-25-78:
Glenwood Addn #92.
ee/8-31-78
4.. a variance be granted to the street design standards
of the Subdivision Regulations to allow a 24' private
road and,that the design of intersections and turning
radius on private roadways be coordinated with the
Kalispell Fire Department to facilitate equipment
and,
5. that the land use section of the covenants specially
state the number of dwellings permitted on each lot and
whether detached or attached as per approved preliminary
plat and that the City of Kalispell be made a party to
the covenants.
Dorothy Garvin seconded the motion.
The Board then discussed the differences between townhouses
-condominiums, single family dwelling units, attached and
detached.
The motion carried with 4 ayes and 1 nay and one abstention
that being Jim Thompson.
Data was passed out to the Board Members relative to their
next public hearing to be held July 25, 1978.
Being no further business the meeting adjourned at
10:55 p.m.
President Dale Haarr
10.
Secr.
We the undersigned, members of the Kalispell City -County Planning
Board, do hereby wiave notice of meeting of the Board held
Tuesday, July 11, 1978, at 7:30 p.m. in the Courthouse East,
723 5th. Avenue East, Kalispell, Montana.