packet (8)AGENDA KALISPELL CITY PLANNING COMMISSION TUESDAY, MAY 12 2026 The public can participate in person in the Council Chambers or via videoconferencing. Please sign in 5 minutes prior to the meeting to ensure connection. https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8phC2Y3cT9CfEDwVm27mCQ
The City of Kalispell does not discriminate based on disability in its programs, services, activities, and employment
practices. Accessible parking is available at the City lot north of City Hall, and accessible restrooms are available. If you need auxiliary aids or services for effective communication or other reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting or hearing, please contact the Development Services front desk at (406)758-7940 as soon as possible,
preferably at least two working days before the meeting date. The regular meeting of the Kalispell City Planning Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, 2026, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Kalispell City Council Chambers, Kalispell City Hall, 201 First Avenue East, Kalispell. The agenda for the meeting will be:
A. Call to Order and Roll Call B. Election of Officers C. Approval of Minutes of April 14, 2026 D. Hear the Public – The public may comment on any matter on the agenda or not on the agenda. (Comments are typically held to 3 minutes or less.) E. Public Hearing The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing and take public comments on the agenda item(s) listed below:
1. Public Participation Plan Update – The City of Kalispell recently adopted the Kalispell Land Use Plan – PLAN-IT 2045. The land use plan was adopted under the Montana Land Use Planning Act and is a policy document guiding land use regulations and decisions. As part of the implementation of the
plan, the City is in the process of updating zoning and subdivision regulations. This proposal, which is related to those regulation updates, involves updating the public participation plan that outlines public outreach and engagement. The existing participation plan was adopted in 2024 and focuses
primarily on the land use plan. This proposed public participation plan update expands the details regarding notice and public comment for site-specific development, such as subdivisions and conditional use permits, by more specifically providing for notice in the newspaper and/or by mail and for access to documents on the city website. F. Old Business G. New Business
H. Adjournment Next Regular Meeting: Tuesday, June 9, 2026 PARTICIPATION Documents for this meeting are available at the QR code below and will be added as they become available.
Due to occasional technical difficulties, the most reliable way to participate is through in-person attendance.
Electronic means are not guaranteed. Those addressing the commission are requested to give their name and address for the record. Comments can also
be sent to planning@kalispell.com. To provide public comment live, remotely, register for the video conference through zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8phC2Y3cT9CfEDwVm27mCQ. Please sign in at least 5 minutes prior to the meeting to ensure connection. Raise your virtual hand to indicate you would like to provide comment.
Watch Planning Commission sessions live with the agenda and supporting documents or later with documents and time stamped minutes at: https://www.kalispell.com/480/Meeting-Videos. Watch Planning Commission sessions live or later on Charter Cable Ch. 190 or via the City YouTube page at: https://www.youtube.com/@cityofkalispellmontana9632/streams.
Kalispell City Planning Commission Minutes of the meeting of April 14, 2026 Page | 1
KALISPELL CITY PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING April 14, 2026
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The regular meeting of the Kalispell City Planning Board and Zoning
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. Keith Haskins represented the Kalispell Public Works Department. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Young moved and Walker seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the March 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. BENEFICIAL HOUSING FOUNDATION Kalispell Investment Group, LP, a Montana limited partnership, in partnership with The Beneficial Housing Foundation, a nonprofit
public benefit corporation specializing in the preservation and development of affordable housing, hereby notifies all interested persons of Kalispell, Montana, is holding a Public Meeting that they
are proposing to rehabilitate the three low-income rental housing complexes, consisting of a total of 116 homes (55 one-bedroom, 55 two-bedroom, and 6 three-bedroom apartments), located in Kalispell, Montana. PUBLIC COMMENT None.
KPP-26-01 – SOUTH TOWN PLAZA
Todd Gardner, of Gardner Investments, LLC, has submitted a request for Major Preliminary Plat approval of the South Town Plaza Subdivision, a commercial subdivision consisting of ten (10) lots on approximately 36.993 acres of real property located at 2295 U.S.
Highway 93 South, Kalispell, Montana. STAFF REPORT Donnie McBath representing the Kalispell Planning Department reviewed Staff report #KPP-26-01. Staff recommends that the Kalispell City Planning Commission adopt Staff Report #KPP-26-01 as the Findings of Fact and forward a
recommendation of approval to the Kalispell City Council for the South Town Plaza Major Preliminary Plat, subject to the conditions of approval listed on the staff report.
BOARD DISCUSSION Sorensen clarified parkland dedication process to Walker. Staff confirmed that the traffic impact study and MDT approval would need to be completed before final plat would go to City Council.
Kalispell City Planning Commission Minutes of the meeting of April 14, 2026 Page | 2
PUBLIC HEARING Cornelis Fabricius – 47 Lower Valley Rd – Is not opposed to the project but has concerns about traffic.
Brandon Theis – 315 Anderson Ln – Civil Solutions - Representative for the Applicant – Is happy to answer any questions from the
commission and advised that the Traffic Impact Study will be redone. He also stated that he will be working with Public Works and MDT on the traffic report and satisfying the plat conditions. MOTION – KPP-26-01 Kauffman moved and Hunter seconded that the Kalispell City Planning Commission adopt Staff Report #KPP-26-01 as the Findings of Fact and forward a recommendation of approval to the Kalispell
City Council for the South Town Plaza Major Preliminary Plat, subject to the conditions of approval listed on the staff report.
BOARD DISCUSSION Graham stated that he will be supporting the motion because there is an updated traffic impact study is required. ROLL CALL – KPP-26-01 Motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.
OLD BUSINESS Sorensen updated the commission on city council action on items from the March Planning Commission meeting.
NEW BUSINESS Sorensen updated the board on the upcoming Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Planning Commission Meeting.
ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:21 PM.
_____________________ ___________________ Chad Graham Kirstin Robinson President Recording Secretary
APPROVED as submitted/amended: ___________
Public Participation Plan City of Kalispell Development Services
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PRELIMINARY DRAFT–PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN
UPDATE (ANTICIPATED DATES - 5/12 PLANNING
COMMISSION & 6/1 CITY COUNCIL)
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN
CITY OF KALISPELL – DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Introduction
The Montana Land Use Planning Act (MLUPA), codified in Title 76, Chapter 25, M.C.A.,
creates a comprehensive update to Montana’s land use regulations. Under Section 76-
25-106, M.C.A., the City of Kalispell is to provide a Public Participation Plan that creates
a framework for communication and engagement to ensure access to public information,
and continuous and ongoing public involvement for adoption of a future Land Use Plan
and associated regulations as well as any amendments or updates. As public
involvement in the administrative decision-making process for site-specific development
will be more limited after the adoption of the Land Use Plan and potential subsequent
five-year updates, public involvement during this process is vital. This document serves
as a starting point for MLUPA compliance and will be revised as needed to ensure
communication objectives are being achieved.
MLUPA Requirements
The Public Participation Plan is the beginning of a process to replace the City’s current
Growth Policy, zoning regulations, and subdivision regulations to comply with the
MLUPA. It will also guide public participation for future amendments and updates to
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those documents. MLUPA requires that the Public Participation Plan provide for the (1)
dissemination of draft documents; (2) opportunities for written and verbal comments; (3)
public meetings after effective notice; (4) electronic communication including online
access; and (5) an analysis of and response to public comments.
Public Participation Opportunity
The purpose of this plan is to define a set of strategies that can be employed to ensure
that the public is not only informed but also provided ample opportunity to participate in
the process of crafting the City’s MLUPA compliant Land Use Plan. The strategies
outlined in this document will provide a framework for continuous and extensive public
engagement. Public engagement is critical because the final adopted plan, including any
amendments or updates, comprises the basis for implementing zoning and subdivision
regulations that must be in substantial compliance with the plan. Additionally, the scope
of and opportunity for public participation and comment on site-specific development
that is in substantial compliance with the Land Use Plan is limited only to impacts or
significantly increased impacts not considered in the Land Use Plan, zoning regulations,
or subdivision regulations. The opportunity to be engaged comes with the process
establishing the plan and regulations, not with review of a site-specific project.
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Land Use Plan and Future Land Use Map
The intent of the Land Use Plan is to identify opportunities for the development of land
within the City of Kalispell and its greater jurisdictional area for housing, businesses,
agriculture, public lands, institutions, and the allocation of natural resources. The plan will
acknowledge and address impacts of development on adjacent properties, the
community, the natural environment, public services, facilities, and address potential
natural hazards that may limit development in certain areas of the city. Accompanying
the Land Use Plan will be the Future Land Use Map that establishes the City’s expected
jurisdictional area and future land use boundaries.
Land Use Plan and Future Land Use Map
The creation of the Land Use Plan and Land
Use Map will allow for the greatest opportunity
for public involvement.
Zoning and Subdivision Regulations
The drafting of new zoning and subdivision
regulations will allow for written and verbal
public comment and analysis and response to
public comments by City staff.
Public Notice of Administrative Decisions
The opportunity for public involvement in
future developments conforming to the Land
Use Plan, zoning, and subdivision regulations
will be limited.
Public Participation Opportunity
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Zoning and Subdivision Regulations
The City will review its zoning and subdivision regulations to ensure their alignment with
the Land Use Plan upon its adoption. The MLUPA requires that city zoning and
subdivision regulations meet its specific statutory requirements. The zoning and
subdivision regulations adopted by the City Council through recommendation of the
Planning Commission will set forth the administrative and decision-making processes of
the City of Kalispell Development Services Department.
What Should You Expect From Us?
At a minimum, the City and its consultants must allow the community access to:
• Draft planning documents and regulations;
• An opportunity to provide written and verbal comments;
• The chance to be heard at public meetings;
• A pathway for electronic communication to address any questions or concerns
involving the planning and implementation processes, documents, comments, or
any updates to the process; and
• Analysis of and response to public comment.
The Public Participation Plan establishes the framework detailing our commitment to
public involvement throughout the process of adoption, amendment, modification, or
rejection of any future land use plans, zoning, or subdivision regulations.
Public Participation Principles
City staff and its consultants will be guided by the following principles:
1. Thought and Purpose
Public participation helps to bring thought and meaning to our planning and
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decision-making process. The values imparted into planning and regulation
documents through public participation will help preserve the City of Kalispell’s
culture, identity, and prosperity.
2. Respect and Inclusion
Every member of our community has intrinsic value and adds to its ever enriching
and endearing character. It is our goal to ensure that all members of the
community feel welcome to participate in the planning process and have their
voice heard.
3. Transparency and Trust
Clear communication will be provided at each step of the planning process and
the City will retain all material from public participation events as part of the public
record in accordance with the retention schedule published by the Secretary of
State.
4. Open, Adaptable, and Evolving
It is important to maintain a continuous dialogue between community members
and the City, consultants, and contractors. Likewise, it is imperative that we
continue to seek out new means and methods for improving communication and
engagement activities through evaluation of participant feedback and public
comment.
Goals and Objectives
City staff and its consultants will strive to achieve the following goals and objectives
when engaging the public:
Goal 1: Create Consistency
Create a consistent approach to communication including clear expectations for where
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information can be found. Aim to improve current technology, create better processes,
and continue to explore new methods of communication.
Objective A: Create Communication Expectations
Standardize how, when, and where information will be communicated to the
public.
Objective B: Improve Customer Communication
Standardize publication of Development Services Planning Division projects to the
City of Kalispell website. Periodically review communication processes and tools
to evaluate their effectiveness.
Goal 2: Engage the Public
Receiving public involvement in planning and decision making is critical. We are
committed to improving and increasing access to public participation opportunities and
periodically refining engagement expectations.
Objective A: Create Public Engagement Expectations
We will identify ways to engage the public through multiple platforms.
Objective B: Improve Public Written Comment and Feedback
We will identify and provide an easily accessible pathway to receive and retain
written public comments and will provide analysis and feedback when necessary.
Participation Framework and Tools
There is a wide range of public engagement strategies that may be employed by the City.
The strategies are provided to set consistent expectations for public communications
and involvement opportunities. This is an adaptable framework. The following tools are
not all-encompassing, but are instead intended to provide examples of types of public
engagement which can be utilized in an effort to elicit robust public participation.
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Depending upon the specific platform, opportunities for written and verbal comments
should typically be provided along with an analysis of and response to those comments.
Information Tools
The following methods may be used for sharing information, including dissemination of
draft documents, about the adoption of or updates to the Land Use Plan, zoning
regulations, and subdivision regulations.
• Legal Notice in Public Newspaper or other means (see Sec. 7-1-4127, MCA)
• Notification of adjacent properties when required
• In some situations, seeking input from individual impacted properties
• City of Kalispell Website (including access to information regarding the adoption
process, documents, updates, and comments)
• Social Media
• News/Media/Advisory
Engagement Tools
The following methods may be used for gathering public input about the adoption of or
updates to the Land Use Plan, zoning regulations, and subdivision regulations.
• Meetings with Community Groups
• Meetings with City Boards
• Surveys and Comment Forms
• Planning Commission work sessions (typically would occur after regular meetings,
which are held at 6:00PM on the second Tuesday each month, or at other times
with the appropriate notice)
• Charrettes
• Storefront and “Pop-up” Studios
• Open Houses
• Presence at Public Events
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Continuous Information and Involvement
The drafting and adoption of the Land Use Plan and subsequent land use regulations will
be an extensive process, providing opportunities for continous community engagement
and feedback. Those who wish to remain involved throughout the planning process can
stay up to date on current events by following activity on the City of Kalispell’s website
(www.kalispell.com ), or by contacting the Development Services Department office (201
First Avenue East, Kalispell, MT 59901; (406-758-7940); planning@kalispell.com ). All
public engagement material will be retained as public record and be available upon
request.
Participation Feedback
Feedback from community members on the adequacy of public involvement
opportunities and feedback on lessons learned from participation events is essential to
ensuring a healthy communication stream. Using this combination of feedback, staff and
working partners will determine next steps to ensure continuous public engagement.
Staff and consultants will also provide an analysis and response to public comments and
engagement activities.
Subsequent Site-Specific Development
The MLUPA establishes a different process for land use decisions than what has
previsously been used in Montana. The changes will front-load public input, with limited
public involvement during land use permit and application reviews, including
subdivisions. Any public notice or input for site-specific development will be governed
by the applicable MLUPA section, or local zoning and subdivision regulations, or as
specificied within this public participation plan.
The scope of and opportunity for public participation and comment on site-specific
development that is in substantial compliance with the Land Use Plan is limited only to
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impacts or significantly increased impacts not considered in the Land Use Plan, zoning
regulations, or subdivision regulations. The opportunity for the public to be engaged
comes with the process establishing the plan and regulations, not with review of a site-
specific project.
TYPE OF ACTION NOTICE REQUIRED
Zoning: Text Amendments Newspaper
Zoning: Map Amendments Newspaper and mail
Zoning: Planned Unit Developments Work session: Mail (not required; courtesy
notice only)
Hearing: Newspaper and mail
Zoning: Appeals Per Sec 7-1-4127, MCA
Zoning: Variances Newspaper and mail
Zoning: Conditional Use Permits Newspaper and mail
Subdivision: Preliminary Plat Newspaper and mail (mail only for subsequent
notices)
Subdivision: Variances Newspaper and mail (typically in conjunction
with preliminary plat)
Subdivision: Text Amendments Newspaper
Subdivision: Appeals Per Sec 7-1-4127, MCA
Publication in a newspaper would be in a newspaper of general circulation in the
community. Mailings would be to all property owners within 150 feet of the subject
property or proposed zoning district boundary.
Public Participation for Site-Specific Development when a Public Hearing is not
Provided
A. City Website.
Formatted: Font: Bold
Formatted Table
Formatted: Font: Bold
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The City shall maintain a publicly accessible online planning page on the City's official
website dedicated to applications which do not involve a public hearing (i.e. preliminary
plats for subdivisions, conditional use permits, and variances). For each application, the
website shall display the following information, organized by application and updated as
necessary throughout the review process:
1. The complete application as submitted, including all supplemental materials;
2. The initial determination issued by staff with the date of issuance;
3. All staff reports and findings as they are issued;
4. All written public comments received;
5. Any additional data or analysis collected;
6. The written decision issued by staff, including all findings and any conditions
of approval;
7. The appeal deadline stated as a specific calendar date; and
8. The current procedural status of the application and the next anticipated step
in the review process.
B. Online Comment Submission.
During any public comment period, the City shall accept written comments submitted
electronically through the planning website. Electronically submitted comments shall
be treated as written public comments and included in the administrative record on the
same basis as comments submitted by mail.
C. Subscription Alert System.
The City shall provide a free email subscription service through which any member of
the public may elect to receive automated notifications when:
1. A public comment period opens, including the specific deadline for
submission of comments;
2. A staff report or written decision is issued and posted to the planning website.
D. Appeal Information Required in Every Decision.
Written decisions for applications listed in the table above that were not part of a public
hearing shall include the following information:
1. The specific calendar date by which an appeal must be filed;
2. The procedure for appeal; and
3. Contact information for the Planning Department for appeal inquiries.
Development Services Department
201 1st Avenue East Kalispell, MT 59901 Phone: (406) 758-7940 Fax: (406) 758-7739 www.kalispell.com/planning
REPORT TO: Kalispell Planning Commission FROM: PJ Sorensen, Assistant Director of Development Services SUBJECT: Public Participation Plan Update
MEETING DATE: May 12, 2026 BACKGROUND: The City of Kalispell recently adopted the Kalispell Land Use Plan – PLAN-IT 2045. The land use plan was adopted under the Montana Land Use Planning Act (“MLUPA”)
and is a policy document guiding land use regulations and decisions. As part of the
implementation of the plan, the City is updating zoning and subdivision regulations, as well as updating the public participation plan which outlines public outreach and engagement. The existing participation plan, which was adopted in 2024, focuses primarily on the land use plan. The proposed update expands the details regarding notice and public comment for site-specific
development, such as subdivisions and conditional use permits, by providing for notice in the
newspaper and/or by mail, depending upon the land use action, and providing for access to documents on the city website. The update includes a table showing the notice required with each type of action. The notices
reflect how the City has traditionally provided notice (legal notices in the newspaper and mailings to property owners within 150 feet) with a modification for notice of appeals, which is specified in MLUPA. It also includes a process for utilizing the city website to provide accessibility to information when a public hearing is not provided for, and for posting of written decisions for public review to allow an opportunity for potential appeals by any aggrieved party
as provided in MLUPA. The proposed update is the result of discussion and comment through the review of the land use plan and zoning/subdivision regulation updates. The goal is to provide for effective public notice and ability to comment while staying within the legal parameters of MLUPA. This update
creates a process which accomplishes that goal. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Planning Commission forward a recommendation to the City Council to approve the amendment of the Public Participation Plan.
ATTACHMENTS: Draft Public Participation Plan Amendment