04-21-11 Site Review MinutesSITE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Lower Level Main Conference Room
201 First Avenue East
ATTENDING:
Paul Burnham, City Engineer Sean Conrad, Senior Planner
Dan Diehl, Fire Chief Dwain Elkins, Plans Examiner
Chad Fincher, Parks Superintendent Tom Jentz, Planning Director
Charlie Johnson, Construction Manager Roger Krauss, Asst. Police Chief
P.J. Sorensen, Chairman Kathy Kuhlin, Recording Secretary
HEAR THE PUBLIC: None.
PERFORMANCE BOND REMINDERS: None.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS: Scotty's — 2205 Highway 93 S; new smoking but — they are not going to
put in the coffee kiosk at this time. The smoking but will be 10' x 10' on the SE corner of the
building, unattached. They are also remodeling the bathroom. Existing concrete patio area that
won't impact the drainage. It's impervious over an impervious surface. No comments. This is
approved through Site Review.
PLANNING OFFICE ITEMS: Majestic Valley Arena — request for annexation— their property is
in the county but sewer and water are stubbed underneath Church Drive, into their property. They
are interested in developing a plan for the 40 acres of vacant land next to the arena, including an
oversized carwash to handle a 40 ft. horse trailer, oversized gas bay that would handle a 40 ft. horse
trailer with a pickup, and a 16 to 20 unit hotel. They have checked with the county, but the County
referred them to us because of the municipal services that may be available. They want the 40 acres
to come into the City, but not the arena, by being annexed or signing a waiver of annexation or doing
an annexation district. They want to utilize the municipal services available. They are wanting to
package a plan together with a vision of what that 40 acres could be and sell it with the arena. The
current owners have no design to build but just want to get the potential plan. This abuts Howard
Mann's commercial corner to the south. We do not want any curb cuts on the highway from this and
no traffic light at the arena. Today this is zoned as Agricultural. Jentz would like us to have control
over what goes in there and how it is done. They would need everything to be a full service gas
station, car wash, and hotel. Burnham requested they be sent to Public Works to look at impact fees
and late comer fees to make them aware. Burnham felt that this is an opportunity to remind the
Planning Board and the City Council on why they set an annexation boundary. This project is outside
of the annexation boundary (i.e. the area where annexation should be expected) but they are adjacent
to the boundary (i.e. the area where annexation needs to be looked at more closely given its set of
circumstances). Only the Waiver of Annexation or the Annexation District would seem to work at
this time, outside of straight annexation. This would continue to be in the West Valley Fire District.
Diehl is against this project and thinks it should remain with the County. He would like us to stay
within the boundary for public safety. Krauss agrees with Diehl. Extensive discussion was held.
Discussed late comer's agreement. Burnham wants to educate the owner on the costs. Fire and
Police concur that if we annexed, we would need to take the whole area, including the arena and the
race track. Discussed the level of city involvement in the development of the property under different
scenarios. No involvement if it is in the county. Limited to no involvement with a waiver. An
annexation district allows much greater involvement, including the possibility of building permits and
impact fees, although many specifics of an annexation district are not clear under the state statute.
Burnham is concerned about us doing a half way decision, and the full annexation would be a
hardship on public safety. All access would have to go to Church Drive. The City Council will need
to vote on this.
OTHER REPORTS: Flathead Birth Center - Change of Use. The old Jones Music building
behind the Outlaw Inn on 2nd Avenue East is being turned into the Flathead Birth Center, Mid -
Wives Association. This would be a birthing center. Most changes will be internal but they do
plan to paint the outside of the building. Take a look at this project and we will review it next
week.
Johnson requested to put spoils on Four Mile Drive off of Stillwater Road to give us a place to
dispose of the spoils and to build the road back up. Fincher checked with Baker on this. Johnson
will talk with DNRC to make sure that the right-of-way is secure with DNRC.
Freyholtz noted that the tunnel project is being advertised for bid and will be awarded next
week. The utilities are working out there. This project is scheduled to begin May 14th
Ashley Heights off of Sunnyside still needs to have the sound wall built, storm sewer, water
swale, street trees, and their park finished by August 15th, which is when their Letter of Credit
expires. This could be extended but they can't get Building Permits on any of the lots on the west
side until these items are completed.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m.