Logan Simpson Engagement Summary as of August, 2025August 2025
Between March and July 2025, the City of Kalispell
undertook a robust public engagement process to
introduce the Land Use Plan Update to the public
through two phases of engagement encompassing
fifteen (15) in-person public events, an online
questionnaire, and regular newsletter updates.
In addition to online and in-person engagement
opportunities, staff met with the Planning
Commission monthly to provide updates on public
engagement, discuss potential housing strategies,
and workshop draft chapters. Two Planning
Commission meetings occured in tandem with the
in-person events to provide an update on public
engagement.
The following report summarizes feedback received
through each phase of the project, as well as overall
community preferences.
What do you see as the greatest challenges in Kalispell?
What do you see as the best qualities of Kalispell?
Between March and July 2025, the City of
Kalispell undertook a robust public engagement
process to introduce the Land Use Plan Update
to the public through two phases of engagement
encompassing targeted in-person opportunities
and an online questionnaire. These events
encouraged community members to share what
they love about Kalispell today, challenges they
see in their community, their preferences for
affordable housing strategies, and big ideas for the
future.
In person conversations gathered input from
over 160 community members, and over 320
respondents participated online. The following is
an overall summary of comments across all phases
of engagement.
Tiny houses as
defined in the
building code
My favorite thing about Kalispell is...
• Plan for the future by encouraging
business, fund school maintenance
& construction, and plan roads to
accommodate projected populations
• Discourage corporate-owned
vacation rentals
• Allow multiple tiny homes within
one lot
• Reduce traffic by concentrating
development near town rather than
outskirts
• Conversion of existing unoccupied
commercial and residential building
stock into affordable residences
• Reduce ability of HOAs to set
extensive design requirements
Apartments
as a permitted
use in office and
commercial zones
Higher density
housing near public
transit, places of
employment, or the
college
Allow a duplex
wherever a single-
family residence is
allowed
Allow a second
home wherever
a single-family
residence is allowed
Single-room occupancy
projects, where an
individual rents a single
bedroom with a shared
kitchen and bedroom
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In March 2025, the City of Kalispell kicked off the
Land Use Plan Update process with two (2) open
houses, four (4) drop-in listening sessions, and
opening of a short online questionnaire. These
events encouraged community members to share
what they love about Kalispell, challenges they
see in their community, and their preferences for
affordable housing strategies.
The open houses and drop-in listening sessions
fostered more casual conversation with over 60
community members participating. By the end of
this first phase, the online questionnaire garnered
responses from over 110 community members,
and continued to gather more responses through
July. The following is a summary of comments from
the March events.
March Phase 1 events included:
Top preferred strategies for land use:
Other ideas shared by the community at the
events included:
• • Fill in missing sidewalk between
downtown and Flathead Valley
Community College
• • Regulations to reduce noise and
light pollution
• • Endorse cooperative housing
• • Bikeable, walkable community
with coffee shops & restaurants
anywhere
• • Support density
• • Strengthen public transportation
Allow higher density housing
near public transit, places of
employment, or the College.
Allow a duplex wherever a
single-family residence is
allowed.
Increase maximum building
heights by at least 25%.
Allow for single-room occupancy
(rental of a single bedroom with
shared kitchen and bathroom).
Specifically allow for tiny
houses as defined in the
building code.
Allow apartments as a
permitted use in office and
commercial zones.
In July 2025, the City of Kalispell continued
to gather public input to inform the Land
Use Plan Update process with six (6) drop-in
listening sessions, one (1) tabling event, one (1)
presentation with the Planning Commission, and
continued promotion of the online questionnaire.
These events encouraged community members
to learn about the planning process, share ideas
for short-term actions in addition to big ideas for
their vision for the future of Kalispell, and continue
to share their preferences for affordable housing
strategies.
The drop-in listening sessions and tabling event
encouraged more direct engagement, while the
planning commission work session brought a
discussion of preliminary outlines to the elected
officials guiding planning in Kalispell. Over 100
community members participated in the July
drop-in events. By the end of this second phase,
the online questionnaire gathered an additional
220 responses. The following is a summary of
comments from the July events.
July Phase 2 events included:
PILOT PROJECTS for the City to consider:
BIG IDEAS to maintain Kalispell’s unique vibe 20 years
down the road...
• • Change regulations for STRs to be
occupied by the owner at least half of
any year
• • Manage traffic through town with
speed bumps and roundabouts
• • Encourage denser growth rather than
sprawling subdivisions in the county
• • Reduce HOA ability to set extensive
design requirements
• • Support more bookstores
Top preferred strategies for land use:
Allow a second home on any
property where a single family
residence is allowed
Allow for:
• Duplexes
• Tiny houses
• Apartments in office/commercial
• single-room occupancy
Allow higher density housing
near public transit, places of
employment, or the College.
Different housing
types, sizes, and
design styles Small starter
houses
Multi-use trail
connections
Development along
the Parkline Trail
Accessibility
and ADA
Night life
Locally-owned
bars and
restaurants
community center,
outdoor skate rink
Revitalize empty
storefronts
Bike/Ped
facilities
New assets