12/21/98 Bissell/Airport Zoning OrdinanceDecember 21, 1998
Mr. (Councilman & Mayor)
Kalispell Airport Authority Board
Kalispell City Hall
Kalispell, MT 59901
Dear Mr. (Councilman & Mayor):
This letter is directed to you as a member of the Kalispell airport Authority established under Kalispell
City Council Resolution 4313, approved on January 21, 1997. Subsequent By -Laws were approved
for the Kalispell Airport Authority on April 20, 1998.
Among the many duties, responsibilities and purposes set forth and enumerated in the Resolution, the
adopted By -Laws, and Title 67, Chapter 11, of Montana Code Annotated are those of "developing,
enlarging, improving, and protecting ..." the Kalispell City Airport. Also, pursuant to these
responsibilities, the Kalispell Airport Authority in a joint meeting with the Airport Advisory Board
on March 16, 1998 passed, by unanimous vote, a motion stating; "the Kalispell Airport Authority
direct City Staff to proceed immediately with the necessary Ordinance or Resolution to create the
Runway Protection Zone and Object Free Areas with the potential of an emergency Ordinance being
adopted by the Council."
The Airport Advisory Board, in conjunction with the City Zoning Administrator, FAA, and Morrison-
Maierle Consulting Engineers, presented a draft zoning ordinance to limit the heights of objects
around the Kalispell City Airport. At that Council Meeting Mr. Donahue objected to the proposed
ordinance because he remembered a similar ordinance passed back in 1980. We have subsequently
reviewed Resolution No. 3306 referred to by Mr. Donahue. That resolution does nothing but
establish the boundaries of the Airport and does not provide for the protection from Building a
structure right on the property line, which would in essence degrade the future expansion project now
being proposed. We ask for your assistance as a member of the Kalispell Airport Authority to
immediately direct the City Staff to resubmit the previous draft ordinance for City Council
consideration.
We also direct your attention to the fact that Mr. Glen Neier, acting City Manager, has asked the
Flathead Regional Development Office for a zoning map amendment from P-1 Public to B-2 General
Business of a strip of land on the east side of the Airport that has been designated a protective area
Post Office Box 1997 - Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997
Telephone (406) 758-7700 - FAX (406) 758-7758
Airport Authority Board
December 21, 1998
Page Two
for the future expansion project now being drafted by Morrison-Maierle. Of the proposed Airport
expansion project ($b million) is too big a project to jeopardize because of any slight inconvenience
to RSI, LLC (Rosauers). RSI-LLC purchased Lot #2 with the clear understanding that the 80' strip
of land adjacent to the Airport was zoned as necessary for future Airport expansion.
As a member of the Kalispell Airport Authority, we ask for your immediate attention to these vital
issues.
Sincerely,
AS/ C,iB Blssct-'
Gilbert K. Bissell
Chairman, Airport Advisory Board