Policies Articulated by Planning Board Concerning North 93 NeighborhoodPOLICIES ) BY PLANNINGBOARD CONCERNING•
NEIGHBORHOOD
GOAL: Gateway entrances to Kalispell that enhance the community through
improved design.
POLICIES:
1. Gateway Entrance Corridors (areas of special concern) would extend up to 150
feet of either side of the existing R/ W for primary highways and up to 50 feet for
secondary highways.
2. The following roadway corridors are identified as gateway entrances to Kalispell.
a. Highway 93 North corridor north of Four Mile to the County Landfill.
b. US Highway 2 (LaSalle) from Reserve Drive to Birch Grove
c. Whitefish Stage from Reserve Drive to Birch Grove. (minor entrance way)
3. The following design standards are intended to enhance the gateway entrances
to Kalispell
a. Access control is important along the gateway entrance roads.
b. Access should be coordinated so as to allow only collector or arterial streets
to intersect. The judicious use of right -in right -out approaches, frontage
roads and good internal development street design should be the rule to
reduce or eliminate the need for direct access onto major gateway roads.
c. With the construction of the Church Drive overpass on US 93, every effort
must be taken to fully utilize this interchange and conversely limit direct
access onto US 93 for at least 3/4 mile along areas north and south of this
facility to avoid congestion points and the need for future traffic signals. The
judicious use of right -in right -out approaches, frontage roads and good
internal development street design will mitigate the need for direct access
out.
d. Extra setbacks, buffering and landscaping along US Highway 93 North and
US Highway 2 and to a lesser degree along Whitefish Stage Road are the
norm.
e. In those areas planned for general commercial development on a gateway
entrance, it should occur as an integrated development utilizing and
enhancing the property back from the gateway as opposed to occurring as a
shallow linear strip. Significant individual business highway exposure,
individual access points, and pole signage would not be the norm.
f. Additional design standards should be developed to ensure that signage
enhances development, not detracts from it. Wall signage integrated into
the overall building design is preferred over free standing signage.
Monument signs are preferred over other types of free standing signage.
g. Where the adjacent gateway road speed is posted at 35 mph or lower:
i. A minimum 20 foot landscape buffer should be provided
abutting the gateway road.
ii. Street trees should be incorporated into the landscape buffer.
iii. A pedestrian trail or sidewalk should be incorporated at the
outside edge of the R/ W.
h. Where the adjacent gateway road speed is posted from 36 - 45 mph:
i. A minimum of 40 feet of landscaped buffer area should be
provided.
ii. Street trees and berming should be incorporated into the
landscaping.
iii. A pedestrian trail or sidewalk should be incorporated at the
outside edge of the R/W.
i. Where the adjacent gateway road speed is posted above 45 mph:
i. A minimum 100 - 150 foot impact area should be provided for
major entrances and a 50 foot entrance for minor entrances.
ii. Within this impact area, a combination of berming, landscaping
using live materials and trees as well as grass, a pedestrian trail
system and frontage roads should be incorporated.
iii. Primary buildings should not be located in this area.
iv. Four sided architecture should be the norm for development
adjacent to the impacted area.
V. Monument signs would be anticipated to occur in the rear
portion of the impacted area, other free standing signs would
not.
4. Neighborhood commercial should be used as a means to buffer key
intersections and to meet immediate local needs, not to serve as a destination
shopping area.
5. Neighborhood commercial areas would in turn be buffered from lower density
and intensity residential areas through the use of higher density residential
uses and office uses.
6. Pedestrian and trail systems should be incorporated into berming, landscaping,
greenbelts, park areas and setback standards along gateway entrances to
enhance or maintain the scenic value of the entrance corridor from public
facilities, neighborhoods, schools and commercial services.
GOAL: The development of an integrated residential/commercial neighborhood
between US 93-Reserve Drive, Whitefish Stage and a future Rose
Crossing.
Development will be mixed use in nature creating an overall integrated
neighborhood with a town center as opposed to commercial development
fronting the Gateway entrances...
® Access onto the major Gateway roads would be limited.
Development in this 700 acre site would typically be:
Up to 25% general commercial,
Up to 25% office and high density residential and associated uses,
10% open space uses
A minimum of 40% in various other residential configurations.
® Commercial activity would be generally centered within the development
designed to serve both the adjacent neighborhood as well as the greater
community. It can serve as a town center as opposed to a linear strip along the
highway.