03-10-26 - SignedKALISPELL CITY PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING
March 10, 2026
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL
The regular meeting of the Kalispell City Planning Board and Zoning
CALL
Commission was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Commission members
present were Chad Graham, Pip Burke, Joshua Borgardt, Doug
Kauffman, Cate Walker, Cody Hunter, and Rory Young. PJ Sorensen,
Donnie McBath, and Kari Barnhart, and Kirstin Robinson represented
the Kalispell Planning Department.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Walker moved and Young seconded a motion to approve the minutes
of the February 10, 2026 meeting of the Kalispell City Planning Board
and Zoning Commission.
VOTE BY ACCLAMATION
The motion passed unanimously on a vote of acclamation.
HEAR THE PUBLIC
None.
KA-26-01 - TUMBLEWEED
File #KA-26-01 — Tumbleweed Offices I., LLC has submitted a
OFFICES
petition for annexation and initial zoning of B-2 (General Business)
for approximately 4.2 acres of real property located at 1430, 1436,
and 1440 US Highway 2 West, Kalispell, Montana.
STAFF REPORT
Donnie McBath representing the Kalispell Planning Department
reviewed Staff report #KA-26-01.
Staff recommends that the Kalispell City Planning Commission adopt
Staff Report #KA-26-01 as Findings of Fact and forward a
recommendation of approval to the Kalispell City Council for
annexation of approximately 4.2 acres located at 1430, 1436, and 1440
U.S. Highway 2 West, and for establishment of B-2 (General Business)
zoning upon annexation.
BOARD DISCUSSION
None.
PUBLIC HEARING
Larissa Van Riet — Representative for the Applicant — Ms. Riet is
happy to answer any questions from the commission.
MOTION — KA-26-01
Young moved and Kauffman seconded that the Kalispell City Planning
Commission adopt Staff Report #KA-26-01 as Findings of Fact and
forward a recommendation of approval to the Kalispell City Council for
annexation of approximately 4.2 acres located at 1430, 1436, and 1440
U.S. Highway 2 West, and for establishment of B-2 (General Business)
zoning upon annexation.
BOARD DISCUSSION
None.
ROLL CALL — KA-26-01
Motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.
WESTSIDE PARKING
A request has been submitted to include 4th Avenue West between
MANAGEMENT ZONE
5th Street West and 6th Street West within the Westside Parkin
Kalispell City Planning Commission
Minutes of the meeting of March 10, 2026
Page I i
Management Zone. The Westside Parking Management Zone was
established by Ordinance 1759 on August 2015. At that time, it was
found that within the vicinity of Flathead High School the demand
for curbside parking far exceeds the curbside space available
resulting in limited availability of curbside parking for residents,
congested streets and compromised roadside safety. Accordingly,
residents, students and teachers have to purchase parking permits in
order to park on the street within the Parking Management Zone.
Ordinance 1759 allows for the amendment of the Parking
Management Zone by increasing or reducing the boundary after
holding a public hearing before the Kalispell City Planning Board.
Requests to be added or removed from the management zone shall
be done at the block face level (both sides) of the avenue or street by
petition from at least 75% of the property owners. In this case, a
petition has been submitted by property owners on the frontage
described above to be included in the Parking Management Zone.
The petition includes a request to be included within the Parking
Management Zone from 8 of the 10 property owners (80%). The
area proposed to be included within the Westside Parking
Management Zone.
STAFF REPORT
Kari Barnhart representing the Kalispell Planning Department
reviewed the Amendment to Westside Parking Management Zone.
Staff recommends that the Kalispell City Planning Commission hold
a public hearing and take public comment on the proposed Westside
Parking Management Zone amendment. If the board feels the request
is appropriate, a recommendation to the council for an amendment to
Ordinances 1759, 1817 and 1898 and exhibits "A" and `B", would be
in order.
None.
BOARD DISCUSSION
PUBLIC HEARING
Alexa Seback — 548 4" Ave W — Lives in the proposed district and
supports the amendment.
MOTION — WESTSIDE PARKING
Kauffman moved and Burke seconded that the Kalispell City
MANAGEMENT ZONE
Planning Commission hold a public hearing and take public comment
on the proposed Westside Parking Management Zone amendment. If
the commission feels the request is appropriate, a recommendation to
the council for an amendment to Ordinances 1759, 1817 and 1898 and
exhibits "A" and "B", would be in order.
None.
Motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.
BOARD DISCUSSION
ROLL CALL — WESTSIDE
PARKING MANAGEMENT ZONE
KSTA-26-01- SUBDIVISION
File #KSTA-26-01 - The City of Kalispell has proposed subdivision
REGULATION TEXT
regulation text amendments which incorporate recent changes in
AMENDMENTS
state law and align the ordinance with the Montana Land Use
Planning Act. Changes are focused on procedural changes in how
subdivision applications are processed by making subdivision
Kalispell City Planning Commission
Minutes of the meeting of March 10, 2026
Page 12
review a primarily administrative process subject to appeal to the
Planning Commission, City Council, and District Court.
STAFF REPORT
PJ Sorensen representing the Kalispell Planning Department reviewed
Staff report #KSTA-26-01.
Staff recommends that the Kalispell City Planning Commission
adopt the findings in staff report KSTA-26-01 and recommend to the
Kalispell City Council that the proposed amendments be adopted as
provided herein.
BOARD DISCUSSION
Sorensen clarified the plat approval process and confirmed that the
design and construction standards are listed in the regulations to
Young. Sorensen also clarified the notification process for
preliminary plat applications and the appeal process to the
commission.
PUBLIC HEARING
None.
MOTION — KSTA-26-01
Kauffman moved and Young seconded that the Kalispell City
Planning Commission adopt the findings in staff report KSTA-26-01
and recommend to the Kalispell City Council that the proposed
amendments be adopted as provided herein.
BOARD DISCUSSION
Graham stated that the current process for public comment allows for
better communication and that he will not be supporting this
amendment. Borgardt stated that the amended regulations take power
away from City Council which consists of elected officials.
ROLL CALL — KSTA-26-01
Motion passed 6-1 on a roll call vote. Young, Kauffman, Borgardt,
Walker, Burke and Hunter voted in favor; Graham voted against the
motion.
OLD BUSINESS
Sorensen updated the commission on city council action on items
from the February Planning Commission meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Sorensen updated the board on the upcoming Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Planning Commission Meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:57 PM.
Chad Grah
Presid
APPROVED as submitted/amended: LIjI `i I -L&L6
Kirstin Robi son
Recording Secretary
Kalispell City Planning Commission
Minutes of the meeting of March 10, 2026
Page 3
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