1. Public Hearing - Kalispell Growth Policy 2020Tri-City Planning Office
17 Second Street East- Suite 211
Kalispell, Montana 59901
Phone: (406) 751-1850
Fax: (406) 751-1858
tricity@centurytel.net
REPORT TO: Kalispell Mayor and City Council
FROM: Narda A. Wilson, Senior Planner
Chris A. Kukulski, City Manager
SUBJECT: Draft Kalispell Growth Policy 2020
MEETING DATE: January 13, 2003
BACKGROUND: As you are aware, the Kalispell City Planning Board has been
working very hard over the last several months in work sessions preparing a growth
policy. The board has been very dedicated to this project with attendance from all of
the members at most meeting. A semi-final draft of the Kalispell Growth Policy was
prepared and posted on the web sites of the Tri-City Planning Office
(www.tricityplanning-mt.com) and the City of Kalispell around November 26, 2002
and copies made available to the public. A public hearing was scheduled before the
planning board on December 17, 2002 on the Draft Kalispell Growth Policy 2020. The
record was left open until December 24, 2002 to allow for additional written
testimony. The public hearing was well attended and there were some very
constructive comments. The planning board met on December 19, 2002 to discuss
the public testimony and made some changes as a result. A copy of the memo from
that work session has also been included so that you will know the issues that came
up and were addressed by the board. The changes made to the growth policy that
were made by the planning board at that work session were posted on the Tri-City
Planning Office web site on December 23, 2002.
To review the additional written public comments, the planning board met again in a
work session on December 30, 2002 to discuss the testimony prior to the special
meeting scheduled for that night. The memo from the staff to the planning board
outlining the issues that were raised with the additional written testimony is also
included for your information. The December 23, 2002 document was used as a base
document at the December 30, 2002 special meeting and there were some additional
amendments. All of the amendments were approved with one motion and then
Resolution KGP-02-1 (required by state statute) was adopted unanimously. This
resolution is being forwarded to you and recommends the Kalispell City Council adopt
the Kalispell Growth Policy as presented by the Kalispell City Planning Board and
dated December 31, 2002.
The growth policy contains several elements: the growth policy section which is the
heart of the document, frames the community issues followed by goal and policy
statements and then recommendations to implement the goals and policies. The
second component is the future land use map that provides a vision for the future
growth of the city and a basis for zoning as property is annexed to the city. Appendix
A is the resource and analysis section that include demographic information
including census information and housing data as well as an inventory of resources
Providing Community Planning Assistance To:
• City of Kalispell • City of Columbia Falls • City of Whitefish
Draft Kalispell Growth Policy 2020
December 31, 2002
Page 2
and existing land uses. Appendix B incorporates neighborhood plans which are
separate documents.
An existing land use inventory has been completed and the information is being
converted to a digital format. We are hoping to provide you with an existing land use
inventory map prior to adoption of the growth policy. A hand colored map is available
in the interim.
It has been an absolute pleasure working with this planning board on the growth
policy since everyone really put forth a sincere effort to craft something with some
meaning and effectiveness. It became clear as we were working through this
document how important it is for the city and county to work together to achieve real
success. The city planning board intends to schedule a meeting with the county
planning board to discuss the Kalispell Growth Policy once it has been adopted.
The planning board and staff are hoping with earnest that the city council will find the
growth policy that is being forwarded to them to be the document they have been
looking for and that it will find it acceptable without many changes. However, if it
appears that additional work needs to be done on the document before it can be
approved the planning board and staff readily offers any assistance that may be needed.
A complete copy of the December 31, 2002 Draft Kalispell Growth Policy 2020 being
forwarded to you will be posted on the Tri-City Planning Office web site and the City of
Kalispell web site no later than January 2, 2003. A copy of the complete document will
also be available for public review at the Flathead County Library.
RECOMMENDATION: After the public hearing scheduled for January 13, 2003 has
been held, the city council should hold a work session(s) to determine if additional
amendments are warranted and develop a potential schedule for adoption.
FISCAL EFFECTS: Some potential positive effects.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the city council.
Respectfully Submitted,
Narda A. Wilson Chris A. Kukulski
Senior Planner City Manager
Report compiled: December 31, 2002
c: Theresa White, Kalispell City Clerk
Attachments: Transmittal letter from planning board
i
Draft Kalispell Growth Policy 2020
December 31, 2002
Page 2
Attachments: Transmittal letter from planning board
Kalispell City Planning Board Resolution KGP-02-1
Memos to the planning board regarding public testimony
Minutes from the 12/ 17/02 planning board public hearing
Draft minutes 12/30/02 planning board meeting
Written public testimony
Draft Kalispell Growth Policy 2020
H: \FRDO\TRANSMIT\KALISPEL\2002 \KA02-8MEMO.DOC