1. Growth Policy Amendment - Highway 93 NorthCity of Kalispell
Post Office Box 1.997 - Kalispell, Montana 990- t 9 - Telephone 40758-7756
Fax - 406 8- r754
Greetings,
t our regular meeting on July 17th, the Mayor asked me to suggest some
wording for the Growth Policy Amendment.
Commercial Development is something in that I have long been interested in,
and I Dave followed this issue closely for the past few years.
am suggesting the wording in the modified document that I are sending you.
I am asking for 10 minutes on Monday night (July 2 to make my case for the
suggested charges. I will explain ray rationale on Monday.
For now I am just sending you the document ........
will indicate where the changes are from the original document.
Goal 1. #3 (e) bottom of page 1
last sentence added
Goal 1. #3 1 page 2
L "minimum" deleted in front of 10- o
ii* "limited" deleted in front of parking)
Goal 2. - Policies w page 3
Changes in #1 1 3�
#5 Added
Thanks for reading and considering this document before Monday right,
We are the legislative body that is elected to rake this document work
for the voters and taxpayers of the City of Kalispell.
See you Monday.
Bob Herron
July 21-Suggested Wording from Councilman Herron
ATTACHMENT B
HIGIffWAY 93 NORTH GROWTH POLICY AMENDMENT
GOAL - 1: Gateway entrances to Ka .is eR that enhance the community through
improved design.
POLICIES:
.. Gateway Entrance Corridors (areas of special co .cer-n) 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.
. US Highway 2 (Lasalle) from Reserve e Drive e to Birch Grove
c. Whitefish Stage from Reserve Drive to Birch. Grove. minor entrance moray)
3. The following .esign standards are intended to enhance the gateway entrances
to Kalispell
a.. Access control is important along the gateway entrance roads.
. 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 intern al development street design should e the rule to
reduce or eliminate the creed for direct access onto major gateway roads.
c. With the construction of the Church Drive e overpass on US 93, e 7cry effort
must be taken to fully utilize this interchange and conversely limit direct
access onto US 93 for at least. 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
intemal development street design w-Rmitigate 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 gcrr ra . commercial dcvclo mcnt 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 signa. e would not be the norm. Out
parcels of commercial businesses would be anticipated within the improved
design of a PUD along the corridors.
f. Additional design standards should be developed to ensure that signage
enhances development,, not detracts from it. Wadi signage integrated into
the overall building design is preferred over free standing signage.
Monument signs are preferred over other types of free standing signage.
Where development entrance ce signage or monument ent signage is proposed, it
should ld e done so as part of a unified planned unit development concept.
. Whcre the adjacent gateway road speed is posted at 35 mph or lover:
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 trai.i or sidewalk should be incorporated into the
landscaped buffer area.
iv. Four sided architecture would be the norm adjacent to gateway
entrances.
.. Where the adjacent gateway road speed is posted from 3 5 rn
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 into the
landscaped buffer area.
iv. Four sided architecture would be the norm adjacent to gateway
entrances
i. Where the adjacent gateway road speed is posted above 45 mph,-
i. A 100 - 150 Foot impact area should be provided for major
entrances and a 50 foot entrance for mirror entrances.
ii. Within this impact area, a combination of berming, landscaping
using lure materials and trees as well as grass, a. pedestrian trail
system, parking and frontage roads should be incorporated.
i Primary buildings should not be located in this impact area,
unless specifically approved in a PU .
iv. Four sided architecture should be the norm for development
adjacent to the impacted area..
V. Monument silts would be anticipated to occur in the rear
portion f the impacted area, other free standing signs would
not.
vi. Whenever parking or signage is proposed in the impact area, it
shall on r be done under a. PUD process where the impacts of
these actions are anticipated and provided. for.
. 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.
. Pedestrian and trail systems should e 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 - 2: The development of an integrated residential commercial neighborhood
(Designated KN- 1 on Growth Policy Map) between Us 3-Reserve Drive
and. Whitefish stage.
POLICIES
1. Development will be mixed use in nature creating an overall integrated
neighborhood
2. Access onto the major Gateway roads would be limited.
3. Development in this boo acre site would typically be:
a. Up to % general commercial,
Up to 25% urban mixed use area.
e. Up to 20% in various residential configurations.
d, . o% open space uses
-. Commercial activity would be generally distributed throughout the development
designed to serve both the adjacent neighborhood as well as the greater
community.
. It is anticipated that development within the KN- 1 area will be presented to the
Planning Board and the City Council in the form of a Planned Unit Development so that
th'Impactso this development can be planned for and if necessary mitigated through
improv d design.
ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT TO THE KALISPELL GROWTH POLICY M"
That the definition of the Urban Mixed. Use Area Category on the Kalispell Growth
Policy Map be amended to remove the terra "limited" in reference to commercial while
keeping it in reference to industrial uses so that it reads, "Urban. Mixed Use Area -
Office, Residential, Commercial and Limited Industrial". Note: This amendment was
to address the entire planning jurisdiction map and not just the Highway 3 North.
Amendments.
City of Kalispell
Planning Department
1 Street East, S t 21 , Kali p l, Mo a � 1
Telephone: (406) 5 - 85
Fax: (406) 751-1858
W : kalispellplanning.com
MEMORANDUM
TO: Jim Patrick, City Manager
FROM: Tom Jentz, Director
REAmended Language for the Highway 3 North Growth Policy
amendments.
DATE: July 19, 2006
At the July 17 public hearing concerning the 93 North growth policy
amendment, council requested two modifications to attachment B, the policy
statements. The first suggested amendment concerned changes to Goal 2,
Policy 3 adding additional language to clarify that if any of the percentages for
development are exceeded for the KN- I neighborhood site, it could only be done
by PUD. Suggested wording is provided below:
GOAL - 2, POLICY 3;
3. Development In this boo acre site would typically e;
a. Up to 25% general commercial,
. Up to 25% office and high density residential and associated
uses,
c. A minimum of o n various residential configurations.
d. o open space uses
e. If a developme.nt prqposes to exceed the -percentages
provided for in a - e above the project must be submitted a
PUD so that the imaots of these actions can be planned
for and if necessary mitigated through improved .es .
. second policy statement t requested by the council concerned language to
encourage the city to work with Flathead County to develop and implement a
transfer of development rights programs. (TDR). Staff suggests that this policy
statement would be best placed. in Chapter 13 of the current Kalispell Growth
Policy page 68, specifically under Section 10 Intergovernmental cooperation as
follows:
IntergovernmentalCooperation mplement ti n Strategy
h. Cooperate with Flathead. County in the development of a transfer o
development rights T R) program. The emphasis should be to
provide opportunities to conserve and protect important farmlands,
sensitive lands (high ground water, flood plain, wetlands,, and
critical wildlife habitat) rural open space.
HIGHWAY 93 NH GROWTH POLICY AMENDMENT
KGPA- a - 2
A report to the Kalispell City Council regarding a major effort on the part of the
Kalispell Planning Board to update the Kalispell Growth. Policy Map and add
appropriate polices to address groom and development in the northerly portion of the
greater Kalispell community. A public hearing on this proposal was held by the
Planning Boar. on June 13, 2006. The planning board has forwarded a
recommendation to the city council for second subsequent public hearing and final
action..
BACKGROUND: The Kalispell Growth. Policy was adopted. on Fermi 18, 2003.
Page 62 of the Growth Policy states that the Growth Policy should be reviewed a
minimum of every 5 years in order to maintain relevance with existing conditions and
trends. The planning boars has begun a regular program of reviewing major
geographic areas of the community on a systematic basis to keep the Growth, Policy
updated in light of the significant growth occurring in the community. This past fall
the Planning Board and City Council completed a. similar process on the south side of
the city. Upon completion of those arnendments, the Planning Board turned their
direction north. The Board focused on this area in light of the recently adopted
County Two Rivers Plan and because of continued interest voiced by large property
owners in this area who are interested in extending utilities and annexing into the
city.
The Planning Board has been studying this area since December, 2005. Dufing that
time they have held approximately 8 work sessions on this topic. In addition, the
planning board has twice discussed this issue with the County Planning Board one of
which was held approximately a year are.d a half ago in preparation of this effort, on
May 1.6 an open house was held. In anticipation of that open house individual
invitations were seat to all property owners of 10 acres or larger owner's total) .
The Ponderosa Subdivision Homeowners Association circulated the invitation to the
o or so owners of Ponderosa Estates as well. In addition a block and in the Daily later
a&e and a significant story in the Daily Inter Lake were published in anticipation of
this meeting. It is estimated that between 50 o people attended the open. house.
Comments were overwhelming in support of the city efforts to plan on their fringes.
The 89 property owners who own 10 acres or more were again notified of the public
hearing and legal notice was placed in the newspaper. Letters of support are attached
for your information.
Growth Policy Amendment Boundary
The area under consideration utilizes the Stillwater River as the western boundary,
Church and Birch Drives as the northern boundary, LaSalle to Rose Crossing over to
the Flathead River as the eastern boundary and. Reserve Drive as the so .tl ern
boundary. ate, The current Growth Policy extends approximately one mile north of
Reserve Drive up to Rose Crossing. The proposed amenmment effectively extends the
bounder 2 miles further to the north. The amendments will replace this portion of
the Growth Policy Map.
Propose. Growth Policy Amendment:
The attached Amended Growth. Policy Map - Kalispell Highway 93 North - visually
portrays the policies that have been developed by the planning board for this area..
The extended map area still utilizes the policies of the current Growth Policy however
attachment B - Policies Articulated by Planning Board concerning North 93
Neighborhood where also adopted to offer greater refinement for this area as well as to
establish new policies for this area. The goals and Policies Provided for in attachment
ent
should take precedent when discussing this area, The core concepts include
maintaining our major entrance ways into Kalispell (Highway 93, Whitefish stage and
LaSalle) as entrance corridors and supports developing criteria to enhance them. This
would include limiting access in order to keep traffic moving, designing development
along these corridors to limit unnecessary traffic lights, utilizing extra setbacks,
landscaping, etc., and to visually create are entrance corridor by limiting major
commercial development to a fear key locations and not designing a commercial strip
betweenKalispell and Whitefish. Neighborhood commercial would be focused at
several key intersects, typically a mile apart. Two fire station sites were identified
based on research by the Fire Department. The primary use in a majority of this area
is intended to be residential with a significant mixed use development (commercial,
office and residential between Whitefish stage and Highway 93 north of Reserve Drive.
Growth Policy Update Amendment Criteria
The Kalispell growth policy under chapter 13 - Implementation creates 6 criteria that
should be addressed when updating the groom policy. A review of each of those
criteria is included below:
a. Whenever here is a. major change in the socio-economic conditions s of the
community such as a large increase or decrease in population, a. new industry
entering or exiting the market; consideration shod be given to updating the
growth. policy.
Response: The city of Kalispell adopted the current Growth Policy
approximately 3 11,2 years ago. The Policy was under development since 1997.
During the decade of the 1. o's, which was the primary data point for projecting
development trends and projections, the city grew at a rate of 19* ° or an annual
average rate of 1.8 . Since 2000 the City of Kalispell has grown at an annual
rate of 5.5% per year. Projecting this same rate through the end of the decade
will provide a 10 year growth rate of 70%. Paige 1. oA of the Kalispell resource
Documents indicated that Kalispell would grow approximately 1 % during this
current decade. Our actual growth rate now is 5 times what the plan was
predicated on during the 19 o's. The city has already expanded out to the plan
boundaries in several areas and development pressure and requests for
extension of sewer and water service continue. Flathead County has approved
the Two Rivers Plan, a neighborhood hl orhood Plan covering much of the area under
consideration by the 93 North growth policy amendment. This Two River's Plan
amendment increases potential densities for this rural area. but provides no
mechanism .anism to insure .re adequate infrastructure is in place. In addition., the county
has granted a plan amendment and zone change for significant commercial
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development immediately north of the city between US 93 and Whitefish Stage
north. of Reserve Drive. All of these factors give credence to the reed to review
the cities growth policy.
. The planning board should schedule a formal work session in the fall of each
year to conduct a. review of the growth policy and evaluate it for relevancy. The
planning board . should prepare a report to the city council as to whether or not it
should be amended with consideration being given to changes in the legal
frame work, factual errors or contradictions, significant changes in the
community or new and relevant information that would affect specific policies
and goals.
The planning board and council met in joint workshop just over a year ago for the
purpose of talking about joint planning in issues. Based on that meeting and
several goal workshops with the city council, the Kalispell City Council has
established as a goal for the Planning DepaAment for 2005 - 06 and again in
2006-07 the updating of the Kalispell Growth. Policy. Specifically the schedule
was to start on the south side of Kalispell (completed in the fall of 2005 and then
continue on to the north and merest skies expanding the boundaries of the Growth
Plan accordingly.
C. Based on the planning board's review, the council may conclude that are update
or amendment to the growth policy is warranted. A report from the planning
board should include a description of proposed changes and rationale, impacts of
changes, necessary revisions to growth policy implementation strategies are
resulting revisions to regulations if needed.
The Planning board has prepared a. series of suggested amendments both to the
Growth Policy Map and to the policy document as part of the Hig way 93 North
Planning Process to address growth issues in one of the fastest growing
quadrants of the city. 'these form the basis of the Highway 93 North Growth
Policy Amendment.
. Amendments should include a public hearing before the planning board with the
level of public involvement depending on the scope of the proposed changes or
amendments.
The planning board has twice discussed this issue with the County Planning
Board one of whichwas held approximately a year and a half ago in preparation
of this effort. on May 16 an open house was held for property owners in the
amendment area. In anticipation of that open house individual invitations were
seat to all property owners of 10 acres or larger owner's total). The Ponderosa
Subdivision Homeowners Association circulated the invitation to the 90 or so
owners of Ponderosa Estates as well. In addition a. block ad in the Daily Inter
Lake and a significant story in the Daily later Lake were published in
anticipation of this meeting. It is estimated that between 50 - 60 people attended
the open house. Comments were overwhelming in support of the city efforts to
plan on their fringes. The 89 property owners who own 10 acres or more were
again notified of the public hearing and legal notice was placed in the newspaper.
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e. Evaluation criteria should include consistency with the goals and policies of the
growth policy, state law and other established policies ar o tcd by the city council
as well as a demonstration of the public need and support for the change; the
proposed change is the most effective means of meeting the need and there is
benefit to the public rater than enefiting one or a fear property owners at the
expense of others.
The growth policy update was not predicated by any one property, but instead
was a very broad planning process that affected properties within a. 12.8 square
rile area of the cor r. unity. Note that letters were sent to property owners of
10 acres or more during the open house and hearing process. Within the
proposed growth policy amendment .ment area, planning staff has been contacted by
different t property owners representing 11 different projects totaling over 1,800
acres of land. All discussions involved a desire of these groups to develop their
properties and the feasibility and availability of city services, A common theme
has been that they have received or are applying for plan amendments ments in the
county and realize that they can not build to the densities they are requesting or
have been approved for with out public utilities (sewer, water, fire, etc). Public
comments made at the open house by property owners within the amendment
area were significantly in favor of moving forward it the plan amendments.
ts.
f. Additional plans .s should be initiated as recommended y the planning board to
address specific areas or needs in the community such as a bike and pedestrian
plan or redevelopment plan for certain areas.
The city of Kalispell, in recognition of the growth that is occurring is undertaking
a. series of planning efforts through gh out the community. The city is involved in a
$150,000 contract jointly funded by MDT to update the 1993 Kalispell. Urban.
Area Transportation Plan. The northern boundary of the plan is Church and
Birch. Drives, s, the same o ndary used for the growth policy amendment. This
boundary was selected for the transportation plan at the recommendation of the
Kalispell. Technical Advisory Committee AC and particularly at the urging of
the county commission who has representatives on the TAC. Secondly, the city
is under contract with a consultant to update the greater Kalispell Parks and.
Recreation Plan. This plan will include a. pedestrian trails component. This plan
uses the same northerly boundary of Church and Birch Drives. es. ina l.y, the city
is under contract with another consulting firm to update the 2002 Water, Sewer
and Storm Drainage Systems Facility Plan for the city. Again, the planning
boundaries for this plan will use Church and Birch. Drives as the northern
boundaries. These planning documents all rely on the need for an accurate and
updated Growth.. Policy.
Recommendation.
The Kalispell City Council should. schedule a public hea-ring and take public comment
at the public hearing. Based on that comment and additional council discussion, the
council should make changes as they feel appropriate and approve the North 93
Neighborhood Groff Policy Amendments.
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