05-03-16 Council Sub-Committee Growth Policy Work Session Agenda with materialsL `'V r CITY COUNCIL SUB -COMMITTEE
GROWTH POLICY
A - Z WORK SESSION AGENDA
MONTANA Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at 6:00 p.m.
City Hall First Floor Conference Room, 201 First Ave. East
A. CALL TO ORDER
B. DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Kalispell Growth Policy pdate - Kalispell Plan -it 2030
• Review to date (Reorganization and merger of chapters has occurred)
• The Economy
• Natural Environment
• Downtown and Core Area
• Historic and Cultural Preservation
The City Council held a work session on November 23, 2015 to discuss the
Growth Policy 2030. At the work session it was determined that a small working
group of the Council members would be formed that could review the document.
The work sessions will occur until the Council working group feels the necessary
modifications have been made and the Growth Policy is ready for Council action.
At the previous work session on April 5, 2016, the Sub -Committee reviewed the
Business, Industry, and Agriculture Chapters.
C. PUBLIC COMMENT
Persons wishing to address the council are asked to do so at this time. Those addressing
the council are requested to give their name and address for the record. Please limit
comments to three minutes.
D. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORTS
E. ADJOURNMENT
UPCOMING SCHEDULE / FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Ward III Town Hall Meeting — May 4, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Council Budget Work Sessions — May 11, May 12, and if needed May 13, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. — Council
Chambers
Coffee with the Chief — May 11, 2016, at 5:30 p.m. — Sykes Diner, 202 2nd Avenue West
Regular Council Meeting — May 16, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Council Work Session — May 23, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. — Council Chambers
Page 1 of 1
Chapter 4: Business and Industry
Kalispell is the retail, commercial, and government center for the Flathead Valley- In addition,
Kalispell has increasingly emerged as the regional trade center for Northwest Montana with a
trade area of 150,000 people. The viability of the local economy depends on some degree of
both commercial and economic growth, especially in the areas of basic industries which bring
money into the community. In order to meet the demand, numerous districts have developed
in the City for business and industry development, including: 1) The Downtown area including
the Core Area, 2) South Kalispell along U.S. 93 up to the courthouse, 3) Westside of U.S. 2 near
meridian, 4) North commercial district along U.S. 93, 5) Old School Station industrial tech park,
and 6) the Glacier Rail Park. All of the districts mentioned above have developed on, or within
close proximity to the U.S. 93 or U.S. 2 highway corridors. The business and industry districts
provide for the necessary area for existing and future business development. Additionally, the
larger PUD's have a business and industry component, which provides for additional business
opportunities as developments progress.
1 1 P a g e Business
Issues:
Comment [3141]: Similar to Issue 7
1. The cost of developing within the City is greater than in the County.
2. Land with commercial zoning is available in the community but is sometimes located in
undesirable areas where infrastructure is either lacking or in need of upgrades.
Formatted: Font: 11 pt
3. As technology and the economy have evolved the demand for traditional
industrial/manufacturing sites with rail access have declined, and the need for areas
with full urban services in high-tech industrial park settings have increased.
4. Development of DNRC Section 36 land is difficult for small business due to lack of Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.25"
infrastructure improvements.
-5-6.There is a need for light industrial property as part of the future growth of Kalispell,
but no quantifiable information is available that assesses market conditions,
absorption potential and vacancy rates.
7_Downtown Kalispell has been impacted by the loss of department stores and general
commercial dispersion.
&8.Strict legal interpretation and application of design & standards are a hindrance to
business.
Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.25"
Formatted: Font: 11 pt
Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.69", No bullets or
numbering
Formatted: Indent: Left: OAT"
@It.' St IF@S ...J ..,h�hili+�+i.,...,f @Xi5%iR , hiS%GIFiGal S%FY -%YF@S ' Comment []N2]• Not an issue
Comment [3143]: covered by issue 6, policies,
and also community growth and design.
9. Design standards are sometimes inadequate in producing desirable results at a district
or neighborhood scale, especially in regards to community entrances and when districts
develop in a piecemeal way.
21Page Business
10. The Kalispell Downtown planning area has significant capacity for future business and
industry . This GuFFeRt G ty haS Ret tree,. F FUmd- fee .,. belc of
yea Fs. Knowing this capacity can help in planning for downtown revitalization and in
economic development efforts.
GOALS:
1. ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF PROSPEROUS COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS, EACH WITH A VIABLE MIX OF BUSINESSES, SUITABLE
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND A COORDINATED DEVELOPMENT PATTERN THAT REDUCES
BUSINESS COSTS AND INCREASES SM41 i BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.
2. IENSURE KALISPELL IS EQUIPPED WITH THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO
CONNECT WITH GLOBAL MARKETS.
3. ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CORE AREA NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
Comment []N4]: Moved from Community
Growth and Design
Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5", No bullets or
numbering
DE./ €60 °,�" €NITS VW T.W. EX I STI "', IG—D E V F 69 °,�" €NTS AAI D P UTI I R F 12 6ANIN €B
Comment []N5]: Already integrated into the
policies and also community growth and design.
4. PROVIDE ADEQUATE AREAS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF PRESENT AND FUTURE
BUSINESSES IN TERMS OF COST, TYPE, DESIGN AND LOCATION.
.6-5 MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF WELL -ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL AREAS BY AVOIDING THE
ENCROACHMENT OF INCOMPATIBLE USES AND PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT BUFFER AREAS
BETWEEN INCOMPATIBLE USES.
3 1 Business
�I54PI [nA CnIT cTAnQADnc TWAT [nlcl ID[ A WlCgW Q1IAl ITV CI Inl!'TIQl l ANQ nCCIG nI In
ni nn1 n n i[ i n o n n [ niT Comment [31461: Already in community growth
l and design and policies I
6. DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF FUTURE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
NEEDS IN ORDERTO BE RESPONSIVETO POTENTIAL GROWTH.
Policies:
1. Central business district (Downtown and Core Area neighborhoods):
a. Recognize the downtown and core area neighborhoods as the center of the
community.
b. Work to create and support a prosperous core of retailers, restaurants and
entertainment uses that keeps the central business district active and vibrant.
c. Reinforce and take advantage of downtown's strengths including its higher
concentration of people, investment in buildings and infrastructure, intricate mix of
land uses, historic and architectural character, pedestrian orientation, and visitor
attraction.
d. Recognize that there are special parking considerations downtown which differ from
other areas. Encourage innovative parking management, effective regulation of on -
street parking, shared parking provisions, parking standards that encourage reuse of
upper floors, and provision of public parking lots and structures.
e. Encourage rehabilitation and reuse of existing downtown buildings.
f. Redevelopment in the downtown should consider the downtown's historic character
and be compatible with the existing built environment.
g. Support redevelopment by improving infrastructure to assist the development
community.
h. Encourage development and redevelopment by creating incentives for developers to
off -set infrastructure and other site costs.
i. Redevelopment is encouraged to integrate a variety of residential housing types to
accommodate people of different age groups and income levels.
j. Support and encourage the concentration of community events, civic functions, and
activities in the downtown.
2. Neighborhood Commercial Areas:
a. Establish neighborhood commercial areas designed to provide convenient goods and
services that address the daily needs of the immediate neighborhood.
b. Neighborhood commercial areas should generally be three to five acres in size and
be spaced one-half to one mile apart. Sites should be configured to enable
4� Business
clustering of neighborhood commercial businesses, emphasizing bike and pedestrian
access.
c. Uses should be architecturally designed, landscaped and buffered to fit the
surrounding neighborhood.
3. General Commercial
a. Established commercial districts along major arterials are anticipated to provide
areas for commercial uses that require space for outdoor display of merchandise,
storage of materials and / or equipment and outdoor sales areas as well as general
retail.
b. The expansion of additional commercial districts along major arterials is anticipated
to occur at such time as the development or redevelopment of existing commercial
districts have significantly developed to avoid the creation of new commercial
district and leapfrog development.
c. Expansion of commercial areas should be contingent upon the provision of public
services and adequate infrastructure with consideration given to anticipated impacts
on the neighborhoods, streets and the natural environment.
d. Accommodate traffic circulation and access in ways that are safe for both motorized
and non -motorized users, and that complement the street environment, rather than
detract.
4. Highway Community Entrance:
a. Emphasize the objective of a pleasing entrance to the City that encourages highway
landscaping.
b. In designated mixed use areas, allow for a compatible mix of office, commercial,
light industrial, residential, and public facilities.
c. Encourage the use of innovative land use regulations to achieve a pleasing
community entrance.
d. Encourage highway commercial development to adhere to the following design
guidelines:
i. Encourage access by a secondary street or use of shared driveways and
interconnected parking lots where secondary street access is not feasible.
ii. Increase building and parking lot setbacks.
iii. Incorporate pedestrian and bicycle facilities into landscaped frontages.
iv. Landscape highway frontage and parking lots to enhance development sites and
reduce visual impacts of development.
V. Keep signs simple to reduce clutter and allow rapid comprehension by highway
motorists without undue distraction. Encourage variety and creativity in sign
design.
vi. Outdoor storage, machinery, utilities, trash dumpsters, service bays, antennas,
rooftop equipment, and similar accessory facilities should be hidden or screened
from public view to protect aesthetic qualities.
vii. Outdoor lighting should be low intensity, directed downward and shielded to
prevent glare.
viii. Allow for storm water facilities in landscaped areas when consistent and
complementary with the overall design.
5. Urban Mixed -Use Areas:
a. Encourage the development of compact, centrally located service and employment
areas that provide easy connections between existing commercial and residential
neighborhoods.
b. A complete system of pedestrian and bike paths is important in mixed -use areas.
c. Expand the depth of urban highway commercial areas as mixed -use corridors, in
order to provide an alternative to linear commercial development, concentrate
more intensive uses along traffic arterials, improve business district circulation and
transportation efficiency areas, by secondary street access, provide flexibility for
larger development sites, and expand small business opportunities.
d. Within these corridor areas, provide for higher -intensity, mixed -use areas roughly
two blocks on both sides of urban highways. As distance from the highway
increases, create a gradual transition into the residential neighborhoods by
encouraging multi -family, offices and other compatible uses as a transition tool with
sensitivity to compatible design.
e. Avoid encroachment into established, intact residential areas.
f. Allow a compatible mix of higher -intensity uses including office as well as some
commercial and light industrial; medium and high -density residential and public
facilities.
6J Industrial Districts:
a. Designate adequate and suitable areas for industrial uses. Formatted: List Paragraph, Numbered + Level:
b. Encourage non -rail served industrial business to locate in the appropriately -zoned 1 ig Numbering Style: a, b, ... +start at: i +
Alignment: Left +Aligned at:...
0.5" +Indent at:
areas along the Highway 93 South corridor. 0.75"
C. Should have adequate access to rail, highway, and airport facilities and be sufficient
in size to allow for future expansion.
development of the Glacier Rail Park into a rail served industrial rail park. Comment []N71: Came out of"industrial'
policies.
6 1 P a g e Business
Recommendations:
1. Historical character of the downtown area should be enhanced with compatible
architectural design of buildings.
2. Contract a market study for business and industry development within the City and
recruit accordingly.
3. Be more proactive as a Citv at the state level to address issues that are imoactine local
business and industry.
Comment []N8]: Moved to community growth
and design
Comment []N9]: Already under community
4. InvestiEate alternative fundinE mechanisms to reduce impact fees. growth and design
Formatted: Normal, Line spacing: single
aFeaS lR eFdeF te--PFeVide ecr5y a GGP-55+^oGe l I •id- „Sid-.-- r-i-
^ighbeFheedS I Comment []N10]: similar to 4 below
Comment []Nll]: Community growth and
design
Comment []N12]: Community growth and
design
@Rd .,+PiGRIt, per9 Aff I@ d W525, F%ShiI4(;FiG diS#iG%5 Rd appealiRg edes%pi-
Comment []N13]: Moved to goals of
community growth and design
4- .Explore ways the City of Kalispell can create financial and other incentives to encourage
improvements that lead to the redevelopment of "R sed ^xis+:^^ eeFRFReFeial r
dP X^+^ VR h^"Si^^ spaGe underutilized business and industry properties.
7 1 P a g e Business
Comment []N14]: Moved to community growth
and design
Comment []N15]: Community Growth and
l Design I
8 1 P a g e Business
Chapter 5: Industry
Kalispell's downtown and core area was once the hub of industrial activity for the City. Over
the last 50 years this industrial hub has changed to a mix of commercial, retail and service -
based businesses. The City is now encouraging industrial development at a planned "rail park"
on the east side of the City, north of U.S. Highway 2, and near the south boundary of the City
away from the historic downtown and residential neighborhoods, where industrial land uses
are less likely to impact residential and retail areas.
Issues:
s .,.d .,hat I ' Comment [31416]: Move to economy
�he health care and social assistance employment sector has improved steadily over the
past decade. Comment [31417]: Move to Healthcare
GOALS:
1. ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF PROSPEROUS INDUSTRIAL
DISTRICTS, EACH WITH A VIABLE MIX OF BUSINESSES, SUITABLE INFRASTRUCTURE, AND
A COORDINATED DEVELOPMENT PATTERN THAT REDUCES BUSINESS COSTS AND
INCREASES BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.
2. HIGH TECH INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO LOCATE WITHIN INDUSTRIAL
AREAS.
_PRn�nPE AIDEn� E AREAS tniiTWIN TuTuE C;Q- nnnni NITv Pno mini i�rRIAI- I;XPA4-1cIQ41
nNnInE EinonnEwn Comment []N18]:Integrated into Business and
l Industry. I
9 1 Industry
Policies:
1. Designate adequate and suitable areas for industrial uses.
2. Consider the addition of some high-tech industrial uses within commercially zoned
areas.
3. These areas should have adequate access to rail, highway, and airport facilities and be
of sufficient size to allow for future expansion.
4. Continue to work with the Flathead County Economic Development Authority on the
development of the former McElroy and Wilkins gravel pit site into now a rail served
industrial park.
5. Encourage non -rail served industrial businesses to locate in the appropriately -zoned
areas along the Highway 93 South corridor.
Recommendations:
1. When large-scale development may have significant impacts on the community, studies
should be provided to assist in assessing impacts including analysis related to traffic,
infrastructure and the cost of providing services.
2. Explore ways the City of Kalispell can create financial and other incentives to encourage
improvements that lead to the redevelopment of underutilized lots with zoned for
industrial uses. Comment []N19]:Entire industry section was
incorporated into "business and industry"
101Page Industry
Healthcare Formatted: No bullets or numbering
Healthcare has been a prominent industry in Kalispell since 1910, when the Sisters of Mercy
first opened the Kalisoell Hospital in Downtown Kalisoell. SearchinE for additional space to
address the increasing demand for healthcare, Kalispell Regional Hospital moved to its present
day location on Buffalo Hill in 1976. Since that time, medical services associated with Kalispell
Regional Hospital have continued to grow. A host of additional medical providers have sprung
up adjacent to the hospital creating a regional medical community serving a significant area of
Northwest Montana and reaching into Canada. Services added include: A.L.E.R.T., the first rural
rotor wing air ambulance program (1975), Neurology (1979), an Intensive Care Unit (1981),
Radiation Oncology, the New Addition Birthing Center, the first MRI in the State of Montana
and Home Health (1987), Dialysis and Heart Catheterization Services (1988), Inpatient
Rehabilitation (1989), Pathways, a psychiatric and substance abuse treatment center (1993),
cardiac surgery (2001) and Neonatology (2008). Remodel and cutting edge ideology has long
been the norm at Kalispell Regional Hospital, with new patient care areas and diagnostic space
being added as technology has changed. Flathead County healthcare and social assistance lobs
are growing at three times the state rate, creating economic development benefit for Kalispell
and the region. Because of the growing medical specialties, broad service area, unified medical
system, high quality doctor pool, and proximity to Canada, Kalispell has the potential to further
grow its destination medical center services.
Issues:
1. KRMC and the surrounding healthcare neighborhood continues to grow and expand
olacinE increased demands on the local transportation systems and infrastructure.
2. Surface parking on -site is becoming problematic because space is limited, surface
parking competes with future building sites and adequate parking adjacent to the
specific facilities is difficult to coordinate.
3. Pedestrian access to the hospital and the surrounding healthcare neighborhood
currently has challenges as new facilities are added in an area that originally had limited
Pedestrian facilities available.
4. The hospital and the surrounding healthcare neighborhood has seen significant growth
and lacks a unified wayfinding signage plan.
5. The hospital, the surrounding healthcare related offices, visitors, and surrounding
residents are inhibited by a lack of through streets to conveniently carry traffic through
the health care neighborhood.
GOALS:
111 Page Industry
1. ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF THE HEALTHCARE DISTRICT.
2. STRENGTHEN KALISPELL AS A REGIONAL HEALTHCARE CENTER THAT PROVIDES A
BROAD SPECTRUM OF HEALTHCARE REIATED SERVICES.
Policies:
1. Designate adequate and suitable areas for healthcare related uses.
2. Provide for adequate infrastructure and public services to support the healthcare
district.
3. Consider the impacts of healthcare development on the surrounding residential
neighborhoods.
Recommendations:
1. Coordinate with the hospital in order to develop a unified PUD for the healthcare
district in order to better coordinate land use needs of the expanding medical
community with the land use regulatory structure.
-1--.2.Provide for short-term and long-term housing options within the healthcare district.
3. Work with maior interests in the healthcare district to develop a unified wav find
signage program to help the public and emergency service providers locate services and
facilities.
(Sand and Gravel Resources
Sand and gravel are important natural resources found throughout Flathead County. While
large amounts of gravel are located throughout the Flathead valley, sand is a resource that is
more limited. Sand and gravel provide the foundation upon which our infrastructure is built.
While there is currently no active gravel extraction in the City limits of Kalispell, there are
several active gravel resources on the outskirts of the City limits. With a continued high level of
construction activity and with malor protects such as Hwy 93 reconstruction looming on the
horizon, the pressure to provide nearby sources of sand and gravel will only intensify.
121Page Industry
Formatted: Font: 12 pt
Formatted: Normal, No bullets or numbering,
Tab stops: Not at 2"
Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.75'
Issues:
1. Sand and gravel extraction operations within the planning area generally conflict with
residential land uses.
2. Sand and gravel resources are essential for infrastructure development and having them
conveniently located is financiallv beneficial for the communitv.
GOALS:
1. SAND AND GRAVEL RESOURCES WITHIN THE GROWTH POLICY PLANNING AREA ARE
MANAGED TO ENSURE THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
AND REDEVELOPMENT AND IMPACTS ARE MITIGATED.
Policies:
1. Sand and gravel resources should be granted generous buffers while the resource is
being actively managed.
2. Reclamation of expended resource extraction areas should be encouraged so that the
land can be converted to a beneficial second use.
3. Create performance standards for the existing and future gravel extraction operations
that mitigate impacts from incompatible land uses. Standards should include, but not
be limited to road maintenance, dust abatement, noise control, and vegetative buffers.
4. Designate areas on Kalispell's Future Land Use Map where mineral resource extraction
is most appropriate and will have the least impact on other resources and land uses.
Recommendations: Formatted: Left, Space After: 10 pt
1. Encourage and cooperate with sand and gravel extraction operators to develop plans for
operation, eventual decommissioning, and reclamation of extraction sites. comment []N2o]: No changes, simply relocated
under land uses chapter.
131Page Industry
Chapter 6: Agriculture
The preservation of agricultural lands within the Growth Policy Planning Area is important for
maintaining the rural character of the Flathead Valley and for the fulfillment of a logical,
efficient pattern of planned growth. When land is developed at low densities, just outside the
City limits, but within the Growth Policy Planning Area, without the benefit of City services and
other required subdivision improvements, these areas become a hindrance for future urban
scale development within the City and take viable agricultural lands out of production. When
new urban scale developments are proposed that require Kalispell's services, the City must
often "leap frog' past these subdivisions, compounding infrastructure development costs and
straining public services. The western and northern portions of the planning area have a
significant amount of agricultural land. However, since the year 2000, it is estimated that 1,200
acres (just under 2 square miles) of agricultural land was converted to mainly medium -density
residential subdivisions.
The last several decades have seen the emergence of "urban agriculture" as a concept that
seeks to foster and maintain local food systems where all aspects of food production and
processing are carried out in relatively close proximity to the consumers. The belief is that
when local food systems are supported it enhances the health, economy, society and
environment of that area. Maintaining agricultural areas adjacent to the City of Kalispell is a
community value.
Issues:
1. Development of agricultural lands that provide a source of food and wood products,
export income, scenic open space, wildlife habitat are at risk because of economic and
development pressures.
2. Agriculture in the urban / rural fringe areas although a traditional component of the
regional economy, is in transition resulting in the conversion of agricultural land to
residential subdivisions that can create conflicts between existing agriculture and
expanding City urban and suburban scale densities.
3. Rural lands close to the City are an important part of the City's future urban expansion
area and can be vulnerable to untimely low density development that is not supported
by urban services and facilities.
141 Industry
4. Conservation easements and similar voluntary mechanisms have become successful
methods of conserving agricultural land, but no local government programs currently
exist to purchase development rights.
5. High land costs are a major impediment to maintaining and expanding the farming
business.
GOALS:
1. MAINTAIN A SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY BASED PRIMARILY ON SMALL
SPECIALITY CROPS.
2. ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY CONSERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS.
3. ENCOURAGE HIGHER DENSITY MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS ON LANDS WITHIN AND
CLOSE TO THE CITY LIMITS.
4. DISCOURAGE SUBURBAN AND EXURBAN PATTERNS OF GROWTH ON AGRICULTURAL
LANDS SURROUNDING THE CITY.
5. WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY ON PRESERVING AGRICULTURAL LANDS WITHIN THE
GROWTH POLICY PLANNING AREA.
Policies:
1. Encourage and create incentives to conserve agricultural lands.
2. Encourage urban growth only on agricultural lands entirely within the City's annexation
policy boundary.
3. Encourage the use of conservation easements to protect productive agricultural lands
outside of the City's annexation policy boundary.
4. Encourage infill development within the existing City limits to maintain the important
agricultural lands on the City's fringe.
5. Agricultural lands classified as prime farmland, prime farmland if irrigated or farmlands
of statewide importance should only be developed to urban scale densities at such time
municipal services are available to the area and they are within the City's annexation
policy boundary.
151 Industry
6. Support right to farm language in developments adjacent to or in close proximity of
farmland.
Recommendations:
1. Cooperation between the City and county governmental bodies should be fostered so
that development or redevelopment of the agricultural and rural areas close to urban
services can be easily accomplished.
2. Suburban and rural areas that are in close proximity to the City limits and public services
should be developed in such a way that accommodates future redevelopment to a
higher density.
Comment [31421]: Not an industry within city
limits and incorporated anything applicable into the
Natural Environment Chapter.
161Page Industry
Chapter 7: The Economy
The Kalispell area has a diverse economy with health-care, retail trade, tourism, manufacturing,
and construction being the largest contributors to the local economy, followed closely by
professional and administrative services and wholesale trade. Farming and forestry are still
important in the overall economic picture in the Flathead Valley, although there has been a
decline in these sectors over the past several decades. In recent years, the largest gains in the
local economy have been in the health-care and financial services fields. Flathead County
healthcare and social assistance lobs are growing at three times the state rate, creating
economic development benefit for Kalispell and the region.
Issues:
1. Although Kalispell functions as the commercial, retail, health-care, educational and
government center of Flathead County, it comprises only 22% of the area's population.
2. In 2012, the population in Kalispell over 16 years of age was estimated at 15,271 people
with an estimated 10,213 (67%) of those people in the labor force. By comparison,
Flathead County has 72,254 people over 16 years of age, with 46,661 (65%) in the labor
force.
3. The unemployment rate for Flathead County in 2013 was the lowest it has been since
2008, with a low of 5.59% in April, 2015&e .
4. Median household income for Kalispell was estimated to be $39,371 in 2012.
5_The traditional economic base of the Kalispell area industries including wood products
manufacturing, metal refining, railroad, and agriculture have been replaced by
healthcare and tourism based lobs. Healthcare lobs tend to be high -wage; whereas,
tourism lobs tend to be service oriented and low -wage comparatively.''"'`"" `h219O^'`
.4ths;PF,AGPRd tOWFiSPR b@S@ J Pa�'iRg .,ham @Rd +him RtiR61@S tgd@.,
.6.It can be difficult for business to fill positions with aualified individuals.
49-7.Healthcare (6,544 lobs), T4e—retail (6,125-5-,594 jobs), hpal (5,125 jobs),
government (4,998 local, state & federal jobs) and accommodations/food services
(6,2934$39 jobs) sectors of the economy provide 55% of the employment base for the
Kalispell and are responsible for creating most of the new jobs in the area.
�8.The average health care position ($42,000 per year) and government position ($40,000
per year) pays above Flathead County's average annual per capita wage of $34,458, but
the retail and food service sectors are below the average at $25,000 and $14,700 per
capita, respectively.
&9.The lack of a joint planning policy between the City and County for the area around
Kalispell presents challenges in providing sound infrastructure, growth management,
and environmental protection, but also offers an opportunity to strengthen the local
economy if a joint policy can be agreed upon.
GOALS:
1. PROVIDE FOR AND ENCOURAGE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF JOBS, HIGHER MEDIAN
INCOME FOR THOSE JOBS, AND A STABLE, DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY.
2 C"IGg IDA('C TWC I!1!"ATIlI"I (lC WI('W TC('W I"Ifll ICTDIAI DI ICI"ICCC 4wD \A/CD DACCfI
Comment []NI]: Incorporated into business and
industry
-3-2. STRENGTHEN KALISPELL AS A REGIONAL RETAIL CENTER THAT STRIVES TO
CAPTURE MORE LOCAL AND OUT OF COUNTY DOLLARS.
/I C:i:REw 'TWC"I VAI ICDCI I AC A DC('I/l"IAI WCAITW !"ADC !"C"ITCD TWAT DDlI\/IDPC A
RRQA9AD SPPCTR I" 4 9F WPAI TW CARP RPI ATPD ` PRVIIC S CANT WDIA(;NlasTIC—,
Comment []N2]: Added to healthcare
S. "IC\A/ DI ICI"ICCC CWQI II rl DC C"I!;Q1 IDA('Crl;Q I!l!"ATC I"I TWC rlll\A/"ITlI\A/"I A"Irl f"lIDC
.n own Comment []N3]: In the downtown and core
l area section I
Policies:
1. The growth policy should be a key element in guiding economic development efforts.
Comment []N4]: In business and industry/land
l uses
nd- ustrbal .Jim46Gts I Comment []N5]: In business and industry/land
l uses
Work with educational institutions such as the Flathead Valley Community College to
provide technical education and training programs that meet the needs of new or
expanding job markets.
&3.Work with business and industrial associations to promote and coordinate business and
industry in accordance with the growth policy.
-7-4.Work with economic development organizations to further growth policy goals and
policies and to encourage countywide coordination of their efforts.
Support the Kalispell area's position as a regional commercial center and a location of
major health-care, government, industrial facilities and retail services.
-9-6.Support activities to ensure that the Central Business District remains strong and viable
by protecting and promoting the historic district; make downtown more aesthetically
appealing; cater to the needs of the pedestrian; promote downtown events and
activities; encourage a compatible mix of retail, restaurants, services, entertainment,
and housing.
Support amenities and activities that promote the Kalispell area as a retirement,
tourism, convention, and arts destination.
Recommendations:
1. Support the business improvement districts (BID) to strengthen commercial districts
within the City.
2. Coordinate with Flathead Job Service and other organizations to develop jobs within the
City.
3. Pursue grants to help with economic development and locating businesses within the
City.
4. Develop incentives for business and industry that offer higher paying wages to
encourage them to locate within the City.
5. Focus efforts on the downtown and core area neighborhood for grants to assist in
business retention, expansion and attraction.
Chapter 8: Natural Environment
Important natural resource and environmental factors in the growth policy area include hydrology,
floodplains, air quality, steep slopes, soil limitations, wildfire hazards, trees, forest cover, wildlife
habitat, and agricultural lands. The topography and geography of the Kalispell growth policy area
presents certain development constraints due to wetlands, steep slopes, floodplains, and hydric
soils. Most of the growth policy area consists of nearly level alluvial lands, bottom lands, and low
terraces. The Flathead, Whitefish, and Stillwater Rivers in the eastern half of the growth policy
area are part of a large riparian complex which creates a large floodplain area. Steep slopes in the
southwest portion of the growth policy area pose limitations to development. The steep slopes in
combination with timberlands create wildfire hazards. Productive farmlands in the southern and
northern part of the growth policy area contribute to the cultural, economic, and historic character
of the growth policy areal. The preservation of agricultural lands within the Growth
Policy Planning Area is important for maintaining the rural character of the Flathead
Valley and for the fulfillment of a logical, efficient pattern of planned growth.
Issues:) Comment []N1]: Moved from Agriculture
1. The natural environment is an important part of what makes the area an appealing
place to live which may be jeopardized as unplanned growth occurs.
2. Various key sectors of the area's economy depend upon and impact the natural
environment.
3. Development of the farming, ranching and woodland areas reduce open space that
functions in a practical and productive manner.
4. The 100-year floodplain is prevalent in many areas and poses significant development
limitations due to federal permitting requirements, fill limitations, and subdivision
restrictions.
5. Development of agricultural lands that provide a source of food and wood products, export
income, scenic open space, wildlife habitat are at risk because of economic and
development pressures.
6. Conservation easements and similar voluntary mechanisms have become successful
methods of conserving agricultural land, but no local government programs currently exist
to purchase development rights.
7. High land costs are a major impediment to maintaining and expanding the farming business. Comment []N2]: Moved from Agriculture
49-8_ Soil stability and erosion pose limitations on development on or near sloping
sites, particularly along the high banks of the Whitefish and Stillwater Rivers.
Water quality continues to be an important issue to the community and ways to
avoid nutrient loading and other forms of water contamination to the Flathead River
Basin become critical.
Comment []N3]1same as 9
4-10. Wildlife and wildlife habitat is being displaced by residential development
resulting in the loss of important habitat.
3-9-11. Areas disturbed during development of subdivision roads, building sites and
other construction activity can contribute to erosion and the spread of noxious weeds if
not properly restored and maintained.
t,. R t a 6 R high alit/ 6R 'e—FWcr-crt,c'� 65 aFtiGUia Fi., UiReFahi„ tc
bT'humaR aGtivities.�Comment []N4]: same as 9
12. The City's street tree inventory is largely split between very mature trees and young
trees installed as part of new subdivisions in the past ten years.
13. The City's street tree population was heavily impacted by Dutch Elm Disease, and the
removal of the dead trees has exceeded the Parks Department's financial and personnel
resource capacities creating a backlog of deferred maintenance
GOALS:
1. ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH OR ENHANCES NATURAL
RESOURCE VALUES INCLUDING AIR, WATER, SOIL, AND VEGETATION.
2. DEVELOPMENT NEAR ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED
SO THAT THESE FEATURES ARE LEFT IN A RELATIVELY UNDISTURBED STATE.
3. HIGH LEVELS OF AIR QUALITY AND WATER QUALITY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED THROUGH
DESIGN STANDARDS.
4. DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH IMPORTANT WILDLIFE HABITAT
CORRIDORS.
5. PROTECT THE HEALTH AND INTEGRITY OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE OF
ITS IMPORTANCE IN MAINTAINING A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE WITH OTHER REGIONS.
6. PROTECT WETLAND AND RIPARIAN AREAS SINCE THEY ARE IMPORTANT IN FLOOD
PROTECTION, MAINTAINING WATER QUALITY, AND PROVIDING HABITAT.
7. (ENCOURAGE HIGHER DENSITY MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS ON LANDS WITHIN AND CLOSE
TO THE CITY LIMITS.
8. DISCOURAGE SUBURBAN AND EXURBAN PATTERNS OF GROWTH ON AGRICULTURAL LANDS
SURROUNDING THE CITY.
9. WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY ON PRESERVING AGRICULTURAL LANDS WITHIN THE
GROWTH POLICY PLANNING AREA. I Comment []N5]: Moved from Agriculture
Policies:
1. Encourage infill, clustering, and other compact development patterns to lessen impacts
on sensitive lands.
2. Implement measures to assist in maintaining high water quality and load reduction for
the Flathead Basin.
3. Development in areas that have known high groundwater in close proximity to public
utilities should be discouraged until such time as public sewer is available.
Formatted: Strikethrough
4. (Encourage and create incentives to conserve agricultural lands.
5. Encourage urban growth only on agricultural lands entirely within the City's annexation
Policy boundary.
6. Encourage the use of conservation easements to protect productive agricultural lands
outside of the Cit 's annexation Policy boundary. Comment [JNe]: Moved from Agriculture
47.
Comment []N7]: already in 13
4�-8_ Noxious weed controls should be implemented through revegetation of
disturbed areas immediately after development along with adequate controls after
development.
Formatted: Strikethrough
9. Support right to farm language in developments adjacent to or in close proximity of
farmland. Comment []N8]: Moved from Agriculture
Comment []N9]: In 13
.9-10. Protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat should be encouraged through
conscientious actions such as not feeding large wild animal species, maintaining
important habitat areas, and limiting loose dogs.
34. 11. Wildlife travel corridors should be conserved and maintained possibly through
easements or other voluntary restrictions.
44-.12. To prevent compromises to the built and natural environment, utilities shall be
placed underground in new developments, hilltop or ridgetop development should be
avoided, signage should be simple and unobtrusive, and lighting shall be dark -sky
compliant.
4-2-13. Development should be designed to avoid and minimize impacts to the
environmentally sensitive areas including:
a. The 100-yearfloodplain
b. Wetlands, riparian areas and shallow aquifers
c. Streams and rivers
d. Steep slopes
e. High bank areas adjacent to the Whitefish and Stillwater Rivers and their
tributaries.
44-14. A healthy, sustainable urban forest along city streets, in parks and open space
lands, and on private property is vital to the quality of life in the community, the value
of property, and mitigating other environmental impacts.
Recommendations:
1. The City should coordinate with the County in developing a community -wide drainage
plan encompassing the City and surrounding suburbs, to reduce water pollution and
flooding.
2. Coordinate regulatory programs involving floodplains, wetlands, and riparian areas,
including unstable river banks, steep slopes, wildlife habitat, and water quality.
3. Limit and mitigate impacts related to outdoor lighting by enforcing dark sky compliant
lighting regulations.
4. Protect the shallow aquifers as sensitive water quality zones and establish performance
standards.
5. Develop and implement a non -point source pollution abatement plan for the growth
policy area.
6. Develop an Urban Forestry Management Plan for the City that describes the tree
inventory of the City, identifies short and long range management prescriptions, lays out
the resources needed to manage the resource, and proposes strategies for maintaining
and managing the City's tree and forest cover.
7. Work with developers early in the process to maintain and protect existing trees when
development is proposed and consider providing parkland credits when significant trees
or stands of trees are protected in long-term conservation easements.
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
I�5 (fill I FIffil Ief 1
DRAFT - CITY OF KALISPELL
GROWTH POLICY
PLAN -IT 2035
Prepared by:
Kalispell City Planning Board
201 15Y Avenue East
Kalispell, MT 59901
(406) 758-7940
Adopted by Kalispell City Council
Resolution #
_________12016
This document can be viewed, printed, or downloaded at http://www.kalispell.com/planning
VISION
KALISPELL IS:
the commercial and governmental center of the Flathead Valley with
a diverse economy, robust employment, and vibrant neighborhoods
offering a variety of housing options; where community history and
culture are celebrated, parks are abundant and well -maintained,
greenways and trails connect the community, and public services
provide for the needs of residents and visitors alike, while looking
forward to future growth.
Kalispell, Montana is moving towards the future. When the first settlers came upon the
forested landscape north of Flathead Lake, with majestic mountains draped with lush
timberlands on three sides, few could have imagined how this remote wilderness would change
over the coming century.
Founded in 1891, as a division point for the Great Northern Railroad on its route through the
Rocky Mountains, Kalispell's founders positioned it as the financial, governmental and cultural
center of the Flathead Valley. The railroad, in 1904, chose another route and served Kalispell
with a branch line, but their vision held true and Kalispell has flourished in the intervening
years.
As of 2016, Kalispell's population stands at just over 21,500 residents with a local and regional
economy that belies its modest size. Kalispell is the heart of the Flathead Valley and serves as
the economic, cultural, and governmental center of a region that includes the world class
recreational amenities of Flathead Lake, Glacier National Park, Whitefish Mountain Ski Area and
thousands of square miles of National Forests.
Kalispell is prepared to grow. "Kalispell Growth Policy PLAN -IT 2035" lays out a framework to
guide growth in and around the City for the next 20 years. It was developed through a
comprehensive outreach effort with scores of community groups with a stake in Kalispell,
followed by an in-depth review by the Kalispell Planning Board and Kalispell City Council.
Following the adoption of the Growth Policy by the City Council, the next step is to begin
development of significant and relevant deliverables described in its recommendations. Of
them all, there are five key projects that will have a tangible, positive impact on the citizens of
Kalispell. They include:
1. The "Core Area Plan" that was adopted by the City Council in 2012. Its key components
are the establishment of a rail -served industrial park on Kalispell's eastern border, the
relocation of the rail -dependent uses out of the Core Area, the creation of a linear park
and pedestrian & bike trail across town, and the infusion of both private and public
resources back into the neighborhood.
2. "The Downtown Plan" that takes a careful and considerate look at Kalispell's historic
downtown and courthouse corridor and identify the area's key strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats; and then prioritizes and addresses the issues to energize and
reinforce the historic downtown's role as the heart of Kalispell.
3. The "South Kalispell Urban Renewal Plan" will explore and evaluate future scenarios
facing the residential and commercial areas surrounding the Kalispell City Airport and
along the U.S. Highway 93 South Corridor, with the goal of establishing a land use vision
that can be fostered and built upon in the coming years.
4. The "Kalispell Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan" will use the completed sidewalk and
trail inventory to create a conceptual pedestrian and bicycle network, identify and
prioritize key missing links in the system, and establish strategies for improving and
increasing the community's non -motorized mobility throughout the city.
5. The "Kalispell Transportation Plan Update" will ensure Kalispell's road network keeps
pace with growth and continues to serve the needs of its residents, businesses, and
visitors. Kalispell's Transportation Plan was last updated in 2008. At that time, the
Highway 93 Alternate Route, connecting Highway 93 South with Highway 93 North, was
still in the conceptual design phase, and was not certain enough to be included in the
transportation models for the community. Now imminent, this project, and many other
factors, will be incorporated into traffic demand models and future capital improvement
plans.
Throughout its history, the development of the City of Kalispell has been a cooperative effort
between its citizens, its businesses, and various government entities; and so has it been with
the creation of "Kalispell Growth Policy PLAN -IT 2035." A vision for the future of Kalispell is
spelled out in the following pages, but that vision can only be realized through the actions of
many people and organizations working for a variety of interests. "PLAN -IT 2035" serves to
weave these actions into a cohesive fabric that will ensure Kalispell is a unique and vibrant
place for people to live, work, and play — now and into the future.
City of Kalispell Council Members
Mayor — Mark Johnson
Ward 1— Kari Gabriel and Sandy Carlson
Ward 2 — Wayne Saverud and Chad Graham
Ward 3 —Jim Atkinson and Rod Kuntz
Ward 4—Tim Kluesner and Phil Guiffrida
City of Kalispell Planning Board Members
Chad Graham, City Member— President
Charles Pesola, City Member —Vice President
Doug Kauffman, City Member
Steve Lorch, City Member
Karlene Osorio-Khor, City Member
Matt Regier, City Member
Rory Young, County Member
Kalispell Growth Policy
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CITY OF KALISPELL GROWTH POLICY
PLAN -IT 2035
Contents
List of Figures: 6
Introduction:
PLAN -IT 2035.......................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1:
Growth Policy Administration.............................................................................................5
Chapter 2:
Community Growth & Design.............................................................................................7
Chapter3:
Land Use..............................................................................................................................8
A.
Housing: ............................................................................................................................
12
B.
Business and Industry: ......................................................................................................
16
C.
Healthcare: ........................................................................................................................
21
D.
Sand and Gravel Resources...............................................................................................23
Chapter4:
The Economy.....................................................................................................................
25
Chapter 5:
Natural Environment........................................................................................................
28
List of Figures:
1. Kalispell Growth Policy Planning Area Map (Introduction chapter) (11x17)
2. Residential Subdivision Map (Housing chapter)
3. Environmentally Sensitive Resources Map (Natural Environment chapter)(11x17)
4. Downtown and Core Area Map (Downtown and Core Area chapter)(8.5x11)
5. Historic Districts and Properties Map (Historic and Cultural Conservation chapter)(8.5x11)
6. Parks and Recreation Facilities Map (Parks and Recreation chapter)(11x17)
7. Transportation System Map (Transportation chapter)(11x17)
8. Public Infrastructure Map (Public Infrastructure & Services chapter) (11x17)
a. Water mains
b. Groundwater wells and storage tanks
c. Sewer mains and lift stations
d. Waste Water Treatment Plan
e. Fire stations
f. Police stations
g. Kalispell Regional Medical Center
9. Annexation Policy Map (Annexation chapter)(8.5x11)
10. Urban Renewal Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts Map (Implementation Strategies
chapter)(8.5x 11)
11. Highway 93 North Area Map (8.5x 11)
12. Highway 93 South Corridor Map (8.5x 11)
13. Kalispell West Neighborhood Map (8.5x 11)
14. Core Area Plan Boundary (8.5x 11)
Introduction: PLAN -IT 2035
The Kalispell Growth Policy is an official public document created and adopted by the City of
Kalispell as a vision for future growth in and around the City. The growth policy is not a law or
regulation, but rather a community guide for making land use decisions. The term "growth
policy' is synonymous with "master plan," "comprehensive plan" or "community plan."
Montana statutes require that a growth policy be adopted and that the City Council give
consideration to the policies and pattern of development set out in the growth policy. The
growth policy is implemented through different methods, including the adoption of zoning and
subdivision regulations and the making public resource investments. When considering zoning,
subdivisions, and other development issues; the growth policy should be consulted to ensure
future development is in substantial compliance with its goals and policies. The plan is
intended to reflect the economic, social, and environmental visions of the City of Kalispell, its
residents and various stakeholders. It is, at is most fundamental level, a blueprint for the
physical development of the community.
The growth policy area boundaries shown above, "Kalispell Growth Policy Future Land Use
Map", illustrates three distinct planning areas covered by the Kalispell Growth Policy.
• The first is the Kalispell City limits, covering approximately 11.91 square miles. This is
the only area the City can implement the growth policy and enforce its separately
adopted rules and regulations.
• The second is the annexation boundary and includes land beyond the city limits where
City services area generally available or could be reasonably extended if the property
were to be annexed into the City in the next ten years. The future land use designations
in this area provide guidance for the City when it considers initial zoning for properties
proposed for annexation. The future land use designations also serve as a guide to the
County when it considers rezoning land around the City.
• The third is the Growth Policy Planning Area, which generally extends out three miles
from the City limits. It is primarily taken from the transportation system and public
works facilities plans, adopted by the City Council between 2006 and 2008. This is the
area anticipated to be served by City of Kalispell water and/or sewer over the next 30 to
50 years. It has been used in this document to provide a vision for the future.
The essential characteristics of the growth policy are that it is comprehensive, general, and long
range. Comprehensive means that the document applies geographically to the entire
1IPage Introduction
community in order to coordinate its overall pattern of growth. Comprehensive also means
that consideration is given to all of the basic functions that make a community work such as
housing, the economy, land use, the environment, transportation, public facilities, and public
services.
General means that the policy is broad in scope, focusing more on general principles and
philosophy than detailed standards. Accordingly, the format of the document is an outline of
issues, goals, policies, and recommendations, rather than legally described locations,
engineered solutions, or detailed regulations on specific property.
Long range means that the growth policy looks beyond the present to anticipate future issues
and opportunities. The period addressed by this policy is through the year 2035, with a
scheduled annual review by the planning board. The growth policy should be updated every
five years or sooner as needed. The update may result in a partial or full revision of the
document as deemed necessary by the Kalispell City Council.
Legal foundations of the growth policy are found in Montana's Local Planning and Enabling Act
(Sections 76-1-101 through 76-1-606, MCA) which outlines the contents and process for the
preparation and use of the growth policy. These provisions state that the planning board shall
prepare and propose a growth policy for review and approval by the governing body, in this
case the Kalispell City Council.
The state statute prescribes the following specific elements be included in the growth policy
document:
A. Community goals and objectives;
B. Maps and text describing the jurisdictional area;
C. Projected trends for the duration of the growth policy;
D. Policies, regulations, and other measures to be implemented in order to achieve the
goals and objectives established above;
E. Development, maintenance, and replacement strategies for public infrastructure;
F. An implementation strategy that includes:
a. a timetable for implementing the growth policy;
b. a list of conditions that will lead to a revision of the growth policy; and
c. a timetable for reviewing the growth policy at least once every 5 years and revising
the policy if necessary;
G. A statement of how the governing bodies will coordinate and cooperate with other
jurisdictions and the county in which the City or town is located on matters related to
the growth policy;
21 Page Introduction
H. A statement explaining how the governing bodies will define, evaluate and make
decisions regarding subdivisions and their impacts;
I. An explanation of how public hearings regarding subdivisions will be conducted;
J. An evaluation of the potential for fire and wildland fire in the jurisdictional area,
including whether or not there is a need to delineate the wildland-urban interface.
Kalispell Growth Policy — Plan -it 2035
The City of Kalispell adopted its first master plan in 1962. In 1974, the Kalispell City -County
Planning Board updated the plan to reflect the changing conditions in the community. In 2012,
an outreach effort consisting of community presentations and workshops with various school
boards, fire districts, community interest groups, and individuals was conducted. The feedback
gathered during this effort was incorporated into the current draft.
The growth policy document is composed of the growth policy text and the future land use
map, while the resource and analysis section provides support data dealing with social,
environmental, and economic factors.
The policy document includes the following chapters:
A. Growth Policy Administration
B. Community Growth & Design
C. Housing
D.
Business
E.
Industry
F.
Agriculture
G.
The Economy
H.
Natural Environment
I. Downtown
J. Historic and Cultural Conservation
K. Parks and Recreation
L. Transportation
M. Sand and Gravel Resources
N. Kalispell Annexation Policy
O. Public Infrastructure
P. Neighborhood Plans
Each chapter is organized into a format of interrelated issues, goals, policies, and
recommendations. The "issues" are statements of important trends, problems, opportunities,
and community values. The "goals" are basic statements of the community's aims and
priorities. The "policies" are the principles of action that guide the City in making decisions.
The "recommendations" are specific actions to be considered by the City as part of an overall
implementation strategy.
The future land use map found on the next page is a geographic illustration of the plan's goals
and policies applied to the growth policy area. The map indicates the types of land uses
recommended in various locations, representing the recommendation of an orderly growth
pattern. The text includes explanations of these map designations within related chapters. Like
31 Page Introduction
the text, the color map designation is part of the growth policy and it is intended to indicate
generalized rather than exact locations for anticipated future land uses.
41 Page Introduction
Chapter 1: Growth Policy Administration
Administration of the growth policy and its implementation is the responsibility of the City of
Kalispell. Kalispell has a council / manager form of government with an eight member council
and a mayor who votes on all matters. A full-time city manager administers the day-to-day
business of the City. There are a number of boards and commissions that advise the council on
a range of issues.
The growth policy will be reviewed a minimum of once every five years by the planning board
for relevancy and a report given to the Kalispell City Council who may initiate an update as
needed. Amendments can also be made through the general growth policy amendment
process to address specific development projects that have not been anticipated, or with a
neighborhood plan to address specific areas within the community that have special needs or
issues.
Issues:
1. Cooperation between the City and other public service providers is critical to reinforcing
an orderly development pattern in the growth policy area, coordinating the extension of
public facilities and services, and addressing the numerous issues that cross over City -
County boundaries.
2. There is a need for joint planning between the City and the County.
3. Development standards for the City and County at the urban / rural interface are not
consistent.
GOALS:
1. FOSTER CITY -COUNTY COOPERATION, PARTICULARLY IN MANAGING GROWTH AND
COORDINATING PROVISION OF PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES.
2. PROMOTE COOPERATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF KALISPELL, UTILITY SERVICE
PROVIDERS, AND FLATHEAD BUSINESSES.
3. COORDINATION BETWEEN THE CITY AND COUNTY PLANNING BOARDS TO CONSIDER
THE ADOPTION OF ZONING CONSISTENT WITH LAND USE GOALS, POLICIES AND LAND
USE MAP TO PROMOTE ORDELRY EXPANSION OF THE CITY.
5 1 P a g e Growth Policy Administration
4. ENSURE DECISIONS ARE FAIR, OPEN AND BASED ON GOOD INFORMATION THAT IS
AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND DECISION MAKERS.
5. CONTINUE TO FIND WAYS TO SHARE EQUIPMENT AND OTHER RESOURCES TO INCREASE
THE EFFICIENCY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS.
6. SEEK WAYS TO PROVIDE FOR GREATER PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT
REVIEW PROCESS.
Policies:
1. Use this document as a guide for development and growth when making decisions
related to development within the growth policy planning area.
2. Zoning and subdivision regulations should conform and be used to implement the
provisions of this document.
3. Initiate City -County agreements or programs that would cooperatively influence the
amount and type of growth within the growth policy area.
4. Updates of the growth policy should be considered when there is a major change in
circumstances such as a significant increase or decrease in population, changes in
economic or environmental conditions, or significant changes in public infrastructure
and services.
5. Public involvement and outreach to inform the public regarding development projects in
a timely manner and to encourage public participation will be provided to ensure the
integrity of the public review process.
Recommendations:
1. Develop a cooperative relationship between the elected officials, government agencies,
and utility service providers that results in consistent development standards, efficient
use of public infrastructure and resources, and quality development.
6 1 P a g e Growth Policy Administration
2. Find ways to provide greater exposure for the public to the planning process, such as
the local media, social media, and public hearing notification signs to encourage
improved public involvement and interest.
3. Schedule meetings between the City and County planning boards to discuss goals and
policies in areas of mutual interest and coordinate the growth policy to reflect a shared
vision of the future.
4. Use the general growth policy amendment process to address large scale and / or
complex projects that have not been anticipated in the growth policy.
5. Create a memorandum of understanding to be signed between the City and County that
would form an understanding between the parties to promote:
• Urban and rural development standards.
• Zone changes, growth policy amendment, and conditional use permits.
• Subdivision review processes.
• Transfer of County roads to the city.
• Extension of services including sewer and water.
• Public safety, emergency services, and related facilities.
7 1 P a g e Growth Policy Administration
Chapter 2: Community Growth & Design
During the early part of the 1990's there was a relatively high level of growth that stabilized
during the last half of the 1990's. At the beginning of the 2000's the City experienced a rapid
expansion of its boundaries due to both residential and commercial growth. This outward
growth continued until 2009 when development of new homes and commercial businesses
slowed dramatically due to the recession. Beginning in 2012, the pace of development began
to show signs of recovery, and 2015 has seen this trend continue as past developments that
had stalled due to the recession are beginning to move forward.
A new urban planning and development paradigm has emerged in recent years. This paradigm
signals a return to the development pattern that characterized Kalispell from its founding until
the 1950's. There is an emphasis on redevelopment of the existing urban core. The urban core
allows for balanced transportation options including walking, biking, transit, or driving.
Neighborhoods can once again be center of social activity and interaction. Other aspects of the
paradigm include mixed -use projects, higher residential densities and pedestrian friendly site
development. Along with this new development and redevelopment, the community still
considers the quality of life for its residents significant, and should be considered when
reviewing growth of the City.
Issues:
1. Growth rates have fluctuated between moderate and high levels making land use and
planning difficult.
2. Growth has both positive and negative effects on quality of life.
3. The City and County regulations are not always consistent leading to conflicts in
development standards and haphazard development patterns.
4. Low -density development in outlying areas has created difficulties in the City's natural
expansion of its infrastructure (streets, parks, water, and sewer lines).
5. Strip commercial development land use patterns further diminish the existing
commercial areas of the City, which adds to the deteriorating functionality of the federal
highways system outside of the City limits.
8 1 P a g e Community Growth & Design
GOALS:
1. RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT SHOULD COMPLEMENT THE
COMMUNITY VALUES OF:
a. Creating walkable and bikeable neighborhoods.
b. Design that integrates the new development into the surrounding neighborhood.
c. De-emphasizing large parking lots adjacent to the street or highway and making the
building the prominent feature from the street or highway.
2. IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE, EFFECTIVE GROWTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT
RECOGNIZES AND UPHOLDS THE GENERAL WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS.
3. ENCOURAGE HOUSING TYPES THAT PROVIDE HOUSING FOR ALL SECTORS AND INCOME
LEVELS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
4. TARGET THE DOWNTOWN AND CORE AREA FOR REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES BY
PROVIDING UPDATED INFRASTRUCTURE, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO DEVELOPERS AND
PROPERTY OWNERS, AND DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES OR INCENTIVE ZONING.
5. COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF AND ENHANCE ADJACENT STREETS, PARKS, AND NATURAL FEATURES.
6. IMPLEMENT DESIGN STANDARDS AT THE HIGHWAY ENTRANCES TO THE CITY.
7. REINFORCE THE MAJOR STRENGHTS OF DOWNTOWN WHICH ARE ITS CENTRAL
LOCATION; ITS DENISTY AND INTRICATE MIX OF LAND USES, ITS HISTORIC DISTRICTS
AND APPEALING PEDESTRIAN ENVIRONMENT, ITS CIVIC FUNCTIONS AS THE SEAT OF
THE CITY AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, AND ITS SYMBOLIC IMPRTANCE AS THE CENTER
OF THE COMMUNITY.
Policies:
1. Encourage resolution of disputes involving land use policy by broad participation,
education, compromise, and consideration of private property rights with that of the
9 1 P a g e Community Growth & Design
neighborhood. Maintain mechanisms to provide for open, well -publicized public
processes.
2. Encourage consistent government policies for development and infrastructure within
urban areas.
3. Provide for land use changes which are complimentary to well -established residential
areas that have significant neighborhood and cultural integrity, such as Kalispell's
historic districts.
4. Design and locate development to protect public health and safety; ensure adequate
provision of services; and complement the character of its surroundings.
5. Development by the public sector should comply with the same standards and rules as
that of private sector development. Encourage, where feasible, development by the
private, rather than public sector.
6. Partnering between public and private sector should be considered when greater
efficiency of resources can be realized by both parties.
7. Encourage the design of urban public spaces such as local streets and public squares to
be central areas framed by buildings, creating a visual quality of partial enclosure.
8. Encourage the design of urban streets to provide for convenient circulation, safe
pedestrian access, and avoid excess road width that encourages speeding and makes
pedestrian crossing difficult.
9. Encourage deployment of cutting edge information technology infrastructure to support
and attract residents and businesses, while ensuring the preservation of the historic and
cultural heritage and natural environmental of the community.
10. The highway entrances into the City should be developed as attractive gateways with
broad setbacks, landscaping, and multi -use trails that tie in with the pedestrian and
bicycle system.
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Recommendations:
1. Maintain a municipal annexation program in conjunction with the City of Kalispell
Water, Sewer and Storm Drainage Systems Facility Plan to address service to fringe
developments.
2. Use the Kalispell potential utility service area plan as indicated in this document and
taken from the Kalispell Facility Plan as a guide when deciding the future use and
densities in a particular area.
3. Continually monitor, update, and streamline development codes to keep abreast of
changing trends and technologies, to better coordinate the development review
process, and to avoid unnecessary, costly delays in processing applications.
4. Encourage infill housing where public services are available by allowing guest cottages,
garage apartments and accessory dwellings when feasible.
5. When large-scale development may have significant impacts on the community, studies
should be provided to assist in assessing impacts including analysis related to traffic,
infrastructure and the cost of providing services.
6. All zoning district designations should be reviewed for conformance with this Growth
Policy. The City or neighborhoods may initiate zone changes in order to bring zoning into
compliance.
7. Adequate considerations should be given to parcel boundaries to avoid splitting lots into
different zoning districts when reasonable.
8. Develop and adopt design standards for the highway entrances into City.
9. Encourage design standards for commercial projects that contribute to community
character.
10. Continue to monitor and enforce sign standards and policies so non -conforming signs
are removed and replaced with conforming, attractive signage.
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Chapter 3: Land Use
The land use chapter establishes the general distribution, location, and extent of future land
uses and provides standards for intensity and density of the built environment. It establishes
policies to guide land use, development and redevelopment within the various land use
categories which includes; housing, business and industry, healthcare and sand and gravel
resources. The various land use categories are also shown on the Growth Policy Future Land
Use map. The map works in coordination with the policy statements and acts as a guiding tool
for future development. The various land uses are described in further detail below:
A. Housing:
If the City of Kalispell is to prosper, it is essential to address residential housing. Business and
Industry that consider locating within the City of Kalispell will evaluate the availability of
housing for their employees of all salary levels. It is important that current and future residents
of the community, who come from varying backgrounds, have adequate and quality housing
available to them. The quality and availability of housing for all economic groups reflects an
entire community and its image.
Issues:
1. Kalispell's population is expected to grow by up to 38% over the next two decades,
increasing the demand for additional housing by as many as 3,000 housing units by
2035.
2. Housing ownership for traditional detached single-family houses has become
increasingly more difficult for low and moderate income wage earners.
3. Kalispell has a high proportion of seniors. While most local housing consists of single-
family detached houses, demand is growing for a mix of housing types, such as more
one -person households, assisted living housing for seniors, townhouses, apartment
buildings, accessory apartments, and second homes.
4. Rental vacancy rate is below 2% leaving few rental options and increased rental prices.
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5. Residential development in Kalispell has often occurred in a piecemeal manner,
resulting in disjointed service delivery and a lack of community cohesiveness and
interconnectivity.
GOALS:
1. PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY AND MIX OF HOUSING THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF
PRESENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS IN TERMS OF COST, TYPE, DESIGN AND LOCATION.
Policies:
1. All residents should have the opportunity to live in neighborhoods that provide safe
housing.
2. City regulations should maintain incentives to provide for varied affordable housing
types.
3. Encourage the development of urban residential neighborhoods as the primary
residential land use pattern in the growth policy area. These developments should
incorporate design features that are either consistent with or anticipate the changing
character of the area.
4. Give special consideration to functional design to accommodate seniors and disabled
residents who have various special needs regarding housing, transportation,
handicapped access, and services.
5. High -density housing developments and senior housing should be located in close
proximity to other necessary services and incorporate bus stops and shelters in their
design.
6. Allow home occupations that would not create any disturbances that would not be in
excess of that which would normally be anticipated in a residential area.
7. Maintain the integrity of existing residential districts so they are bicycle -safe and
pedestrian -friendly.
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8. New residential subdivisions and multi -family developments should design in
accordance with the Kalispell Standards for Design and Construction. When possible,
neighborhoods should connect to and complement the community's trail system.
9. On larger tracts of land, creative design and a mix of housing types is encouraged within
the overall density requirements to create more dynamic neighborhoods, to provide
more open space, and to protect sensitive resource areas.
10. Low -density residential (suburban) neighborhoods should be developed at a density
that does not exceed 4 dwelling units per acre on an overall site basis. An integrated
development plan within a suburban neighborhood could include:
a. Single-family homes on lots down to 5,000 square feet,
b. Zero lot line and patio homes, when accompanied by generous open spaces and
common areas, and
c. Townhomes.
11. Medium -density residential (urban) neighborhoods should be developed at densities
between four and twelve dwelling units per acre on an overall site basis. An integrated
development plan within an urban neighborhood could include:
a. Single-family homes on lots down to 2,500 square feet,
b. Zero lot line and patio homes, when accompanied by ample open spaces and
common areas,
c. Duplexes and triplexes,
d. Townhomes; and
e. Limited mixed uses.
12. High -density residential neighborhoods should be developed at densities up to 20 units
per acre, with some as high as 40 units per acre. An integrated development plan within
a high -density neighborhood could include:
a. Zero lot line and patio homes, with open spaces and common areas,
b. Triplexes and Four-plexes,
c. Multi -family, and
d. Mixed uses.
13. Residential neighborhoods should have convenient access to the transportation
network, business districts, parks, and schools via streets sidewalks and multi -use paths.
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14. A variety of housing types and compatible land uses are encouraged in residential areas
and should be designed to fit scale and character of the neighborhood. Where
necessary, developers should utilize the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process to
craft development proposals that are both innovative and creative, while maintaining
the integrity and values of the community.
15. Encourage and promote the use of second floor residential units in the historic
downtown and in the redevelopment of the core area.
16. Invest in the creation of neighborhood plans that seek to revitalize and energize
deteriorated or blighted areas.
Recommendations:
1. Develop and implement an affordable housing strategy to effectively provide for the
needs of low and moderate -income residents.
2. Investigate alternative funding mechanisms to reduce impact fees.
3. Develop programs for rehabilitation of deteriorating and historically significant housing
and infrastructure.
4. Periodically review the zoning text and map to remain current with changing
technologies and policies.
5. Develop a comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle network in the community that
includes the installation of new sidewalks and trails and the replacement of dilapidated
sidewalks and trails to better serve and connect neighborhoods, schools, parks, and
commercial areas.
6. Support the ongoing efforts of the Kalispell Community Development Department to
encourage the creation of affordable housing options and programs.
7. Maintain the integrity of the historical east and west side districts by recognizing the
existing streets as local streets rather than as collectors or minor arterials, specifically 3rd
Avenue East and 41" Avenue East.
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8. Foster the creation of neighborhood groups that are concerned with protecting and
promoting the character of their neighborhoods and can serve as a resource for
revitalization efforts.
9. Encourage mixed uses to include residential units within the core area as it redevelops.
10. Identify older neighborhoods and areas of deteriorated or blighted housing stock and
develop programs to assist in their stabilization and repair.
11. Encourage regular, open communication between the City Council, the Impact Fee
Committee, and other boards and commissions as it relates to affordable housing.
B. Business and Industry:
Kalispell is the retail, commercial, and government center for the Flathead Valley. In addition,
Kalispell has increasingly emerged as the regional trade center for Northwest Montana with a
trade area of 150,000 people. The viability of the local economy depends on some degree of
both commercial and economic growth, especially in the areas of basic industries which bring
money into the community. In order to meet the demand, numerous districts have developed
in the City for business and industry development, including; 1) The Downtown area including
the Core Area; 2) South Kalispell along U.S. 93 up to the courthouse; 3) Westside of U.S. 2 near
meridian; 4) North commercial district along U.S. 93; 5) Old School Station industrial tech park;
and 6) the Glacier Rail Park. All of the districts mentioned above have developed on, or within
close proximity to the U.S. 93 or U.S. 2 highway corridors. The business and industry districts
("B" and "I" Zones) provide for the necessary area for existing and future business
development. Additionally, the larger PUD's have a business and industry component, which
provides for additional business opportunities as developments progress.
Issues:
1. The cost of developing in the City is greater than in the County.
2. Land with commercial zoning is available in the community but is sometimes located in
undesirable areas where infrastructure is either lacking or in need of upgrades.
3. As technology and the economy have evolved the demand for traditional
industrial/manufacturing sites with rail access have declined, and the need for areas
with full urban services in high-tech industrial park settings have increased.
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4. Development of DNRC Section 36 land is difficult for small business due to lack of
infrastructure improvements despite high demand.
5. Cost of liquor licenses makes it prohibitive for restaurant owners to provide alcoholic
beverages, which are often essential for success.
6. There is a need for light industrial property as part of the future growth of Kalispell, but
no quantifiable information is available that assesses market conditions, absorption
potential and vacancy rates.
7. Downtown Kalispell has been impacted by the loss of department stores and general
commercial dispersion.
8. Strict legal interpretation and application of standards for design & construction are a
hindrance to business.
9. Design standards are sometimes inadequate in producing desirable results at a district
or neighborhood scale, especially in regards to community entrances and when districts
develop in a piecemeal way.
10. The Kalispell Downtown planning area has significant capacity for future business and
industry. Knowing this capacity can help in planning for downtown revitalization and in
economic development efforts.
GOALS:
1. ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF PROSPEROUS COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS, EACH WITH A VIABLE MIX OF BUSINESSES, SUITABLE
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND A COORDINATED DEVELOPMENT PATTERN THAT REDUCES
BUSINESS COSTS AND INCREASES BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.
2. ENSURE KALISPELL IS EQUIPPED WITH THE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO
CONNECT WITH GLOBAL MARKETS.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CORE AREA NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN.
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4. PROVIDE ADEQUATE AREAS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FOR COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF PRESENT AND FUTURE
BUSINESSES IN TERMS OF COST, TYPE, DESIGN AND LOCATION.
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ENCROACHMENT OF INCOMPATIBLE USES AND PROVIDING SIGNIFICANT BUFFER AREAS
6. DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF FUTURE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL
NEEDS IN ORDER TO BE RESPONSIVE TO POTENTIAL GROWTH.
Policies:
1. Central business district (Downtown and Core Area neighborhoods):
a. Recognize the downtown and core area neighborhoods as the center of the
community.
b. Work to create and support a prosperous core of retailers, restaurants and
entertainment uses that keeps the central business district active and vibrant.
c. Reinforce and take advantage of downtown's strengths including its higher
concentration of people, investment in buildings and infrastructure, intricate mix of
land uses, historic and architectural character, pedestrian orientation, and visitor
attraction.
d. Recognize that there are special parking considerations downtown which differ from
other areas. Encourage innovative parking management, effective regulation of on -
street parking, shared parking provisions, parking standards that encourage reuse of
upper floors, and provision of public parking lots and structures.
e. Encourage rehabilitation and reuse of existing downtown buildings.
f. Redevelopment in the downtown should consider the downtown's historic character
and be compatible with the existing built environment.
g. Support redevelopment by improving infrastructure to assist the development
community.
h. Encourage development and redevelopment by creating incentives for developers to
off -set infrastructure and other site costs.
i. Redevelopment is encouraged to integrate a variety of residential housing types to
accommodate people of different age groups and income levels.
j. Support and encourage the concentration of community events, civic functions, and
activities in the downtown.
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2. Neighborhood Commercial Areas:
a. Establish neighborhood commercial areas designed to provide convenient goods and
services that address the daily needs of the immediate neighborhood.
b. Neighborhood commercial areas should generally be three to five acres in size and
be spaced one-half to one mile apart. Sites should be configured to enable
clustering of neighborhood commercial businesses, emphasizing bike and pedestrian
access.
c. Uses should be architecturally designed, landscaped and buffered to fit the
surrounding neighborhood.
3. General Commercial
a. Established commercial districts along major arterials are anticipated to provide
areas for commercial uses that require space for outdoor display of merchandise,
storage of materials and / or equipment and outdoor sales areas as well as general
retail.
b. The expansion of additional commercial districts along major arterials is anticipated
to occur at such time as the development or redevelopment of existing commercial
districts have significantly developed to avoid the creation of new commercial
district and leapfrog development.
c. Expansion of commercial areas should be contingent upon the provision of public
services and adequate infrastructure with consideration given to anticipated impacts
on the neighborhoods, streets and the natural environment.
d. Accommodate traffic circulation and access in ways that are safe for both motorized
and non -motorized users, and that complement the street environment, rather than
detract.
4. Highway Community Entrance:
a. Emphasize the objective of a pleasing entrance to the City that encourages highway
landscaping.
b. In designated mixed use areas, allow for a compatible mix of office, commercial,
light industrial, residential, and public facilities.
c. Encourage the use of innovative land use regulations to achieve a pleasing
community entrance.
d. Encourage highway commercial development to adhere to the following design
guidelines:
i. Encourage access by a secondary street or use of shared driveways and
interconnected parking lots where secondary street access is not feasible.
ii. Increase building and parking lot setbacks.
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iii. Incorporate pedestrian and bicycle facilities into landscaped frontages.
iv. Landscape highway frontage and parking lots to enhance development sites and
reduce visual impacts of development.
V. Keep signs simple to reduce clutter and allow rapid comprehension by highway
motorists without undue distraction. Encourage variety and creativity in sign
design.
vi. Outdoor storage, machinery, utilities, trash dumpsters, service bays, antennas,
rooftop equipment, and similar accessory facilities should be hidden or screened
from public view to protect aesthetic qualities.
vii. Outdoor lighting should be low intensity, directed downward and shielded to
prevent glare.
viii. Allow for storm water facilities in landscaped areas when consistent and
complementary with the overall design.
5. Urban Mixed -Use Areas:
a. Encourage the development of compact, centrally located service and employment
areas that provide easy connections between existing commercial and residential
neighborhoods.
b. A complete system of pedestrian and bike paths is important in mixed -use areas.
c. Expand the depth of urban highway commercial areas as mixed -use corridors, in
order to provide an alternative to linear commercial development, concentrate
more intensive uses along traffic arterials, improve business district circulation and
transportation efficiency areas, by secondary street access, provide flexibility for
larger development sites, and expand small business opportunities.
d. Within these corridor areas, provide for higher -intensity, mixed -use areas roughly
two blocks on both sides of urban highways. As distance from the highway
increases, create a gradual transition into the residential neighborhoods by
encouraging multi -family, offices and other compatible uses as a transition tool with
sensitivity to compatible design.
e. Avoid encroachment into established, intact residential areas.
f. Allow a compatible mix of higher -intensity uses including office as well as some
commercial and light industrial; medium and high -density residential and public
facilities.
6. Industrial Districts:
a. Designate adequate and suitable areas for industrial uses.
b. Encourage non -rail served industrial business to locate in the appropriately -zoned
areas along the Highway 93 South corridor.
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c. Should have adequate access to rail, highway, and airport facilities and be sufficient
in size to allow for future expansion.
d. Continue to work with the Flathead County Economic Development Authority on the
development of the Glacier Rail Park into a rail served industrial rail park.
e. Avoid encroachment into established, intact residential areas.
Recommendations:
1. Fund a market study for business and industry development within the City and recruit
accordingly.
2. Be more proactive as a City at the state level to address issues that are impacting local
business and industry.
3. Investigate alternative funding mechanisms to reduce impact fees.
4. Explore ways the City of Kalispell can create financial and other incentives to encourage
improvements that lead to the redevelopment of underutilized business and industry
properties.
5. Historical character of the downtown area should be enhanced with compatible
architectural design of buildings.
C. Healthcare:
Healthcare has been a prominent industry in Kalispell since 1910, when the Sisters of Mercy
first opened the Kalispell Hospital in Downtown Kalispell. Searching for additional space to
address the increasing demand for healthcare, Kalispell Regional Hospital moved to its present
day location on Buffalo Hill in 1976. Since that time, medical services associated with Kalispell
Regional Hospital have continued to grow. A host of additional medical providers have sprung
up adjacent to the hospital creating a regional medical community serving a significant area of
Northwest Montana and reaching into Canada. Services added include: A.L.E.R.T., the first rural
rotor wing air ambulance program (1975), Neurology (1979), an Intensive Care Unit (1981),
Radiation Oncology, the New Addition Birthing Center, the first MRI in the State of Montana
and Home Health (1987), Dialysis and Heart Catheterization Services (1988), Inpatient
Rehabilitation (1989), Pathways, a psychiatric and substance abuse treatment center (1993),
cardiac surgery (2001) and Neonatology (2008). Remodel and cutting edge ideology has long
been the norm at Kalispell Regional Hospital, with new patient care areas and diagnostic space
211Page Community Growth & Design
being added as technology has changed. Flathead County healthcare and social assistance jobs
are growing at three times the state rate, creating economic development benefit for Kalispell
and the region. Because of the growing medical specialties, broad service area, unified medical
system, high quality doctor pool, and proximity to Canada, Kalispell has the potential to further
grow its destination medical center services.
Issues:
1. KRMC and the surrounding healthcare neighborhood continues to grow and expand
placing increased demands on the local transportation systems and infrastructure.
2. Surface parking on -site is becoming problematic because space is limited, surface
parking competes with future building sites and adequate parking adjacent to specific
facilities is difficult to coordinate.
3. Pedestrian access to the hospital and the surrounding healthcare neighborhood
currently has challenges as new facilities are added in an area that originally had limited
pedestrian facilities available.
4. The hospital and the surrounding healthcare neighborhood has seen significant growth
and lacks a unified wayfinding signage plan.
5. The hospital, the surrounding healthcare related offices, visitors, and surrounding
residents are inhibited by a lack of through streets to conveniently carry traffic through
the health care neighborhood.
GOALS:
1. ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF THE HEALTHCARE DISTRICT.
2. STRENGTHEN KALISPELL AS A REGIONAL HEALTHCARE CENTER THAT PROVIDES A
BROAD SPECTRUM OF HEALTHCARE RELATED SERVICES.
Policies:
1. Designate adequate and suitable areas for healthcare related uses.
2. Provide for adequate infrastructure and public services to support the healthcare
district.
3. Consider the impacts of healthcare development on the surrounding residential
neighborhoods.
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Recommendations:
1. Coordinate with the hospital in order to develop a unified PUD for the healthcare
district in order to better coordinate land use needs of the expanding medical
community with the land use regulatory structure.
2. Provide for short-term and long-term housing options within the healthcare district.
3. Work with major interests in the healthcare district to develop a unified way finding
signage program to help the public and emergency service providers locate services and
facilities.
D. Sand and Gravel Resources
Sand and gravel are important natural resources found throughout Flathead County. While
large amounts of gravel are located throughout the Flathead valley, sand is a resource that is
more limited. Sand and gravel provide the foundation upon which our infrastructure is built.
While there is currently no active gravel extraction in the City limits of Kalispell, there are
several active gravel resources on the outskirts of the City limits. With a continued high level of
construction activity and with major projects such as Hwy 93 reconstruction looming on the
horizon, the pressure to provide nearby sources of sand and gravel will only intensify.
Issues:
1. Sand and gravel extraction operations within the planning area generally conflict with
residential land uses.
2. Sand and gravel resources are essential for infrastructure development and having them
conveniently located is financially beneficial for the community.
GOALS:
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MANAGED TO ENSURE THEY ARE AVAILABLE FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
AND REDEVELOPMENT AND IMPACTS ARE MITIGATED.
231Page Community Growth & Design
Policies:
1. Sand and gravel resources should be granted generous buffers while the resource is
being actively managed.
2. Reclamation of expended resource extraction areas should be encouraged so that the
land can be converted to a beneficial second use.
3. Create performance standards for the existing and future gravel extraction operations
that mitigate impacts from incompatible land uses. Standards should include, but not
be limited to road maintenance, dust abatement, noise control, and vegetative buffers.
4. Designate areas on Kalispell's Future Land Use Map where mineral resource extraction
is most appropriate and will have the least impact on other resources and land uses.
Recommendations:
1. Encourage and cooperate with sand and gravel extraction operators to develop plans for
operation, eventual decommissioning, and reclamation of extraction sites.
241Page Community Growth & Design
Chapter 4: The Economy
The Kalispell area has a diverse economy with healthcare, retail trade, tourism, manufacturing,
and construction being the largest contributors to the local economy, followed closely by
professional and administrative services and wholesale trade. Farming and forestry are still
important in the overall economic picture in the Flathead Valley, although there has been a
decline in these sectors over the past several decades. In recent years, the largest gains in the
local economy have been in the healthcare and financial services fields. Flathead County
healthcare and social assistance jobs are growing at three times the state rate, creating
economic development benefit for Kalispell and the region.
Issues:
1. Although Kalispell functions as the commercial, retail, healthcare, educational and
government center of Flathead County, it comprises only 22% of the area's population.
2. In 2012, the population in Kalispell over 16 years of age was estimated at 15,271 people
with an estimated 10,213 (67%) of those people in the labor force. By comparison,
Flathead County has 72,254 people over 16 years of age, with 46,661 (65%) in the labor
force.
3. The unemployment rate for Flathead County in 2015 was the lowest it has been since
2008, with a low of 5.5% in April.
4. Median household income for Kalispell was estimated to be $39,371 in 2012.
5. The traditional economic base of the Kalispell area industries including wood products
manufacturing, metal refining, railroad, and agriculture have been replaced by
healthcare and tourism based jobs. Healthcare jobs tend to be high -wage; whereas,
tourism jobs tend to be service oriented and low -wage, comparatively.
6. It can be difficult for business to fill positions with qualified individuals.
7. Healthcare (6,544 jobs), retail (6,125 jobs), government (4,998 local, state & federal
jobs) and accommodations/food services (6,293 jobs) sectors of the economy provide
the employment base for Kalispell and are responsible for creating most of the new jobs
in the area.
251Page The Economy
8. The average healthcare position ($42,000 per year) and government position ($40,000
per year) pays above Flathead County's average annual per capita wage of $34,458, but
the retail and food service sectors are below the average at $25,000 and $14,700 per
capita, respectively.
9. The lack of a joint planning policy between the City and County for the area around
Kalispell presents challenges in providing sound infrastructure, growth management,
and environmental protection, but also offers an opportunity to strengthen the local
economy if a joint policy can be agreed upon.
GOALS:
1. PROVIDE FOR AND ENCOURAGE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF JOBS, HIGHER MEDIAN
INCOME FOR THOSE JOBS, AND A STABLE, DIVERSIFIED ECONOMY.
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BROAD SPECTRUM OF HEALTHCARE RELIATED SERVICES.
3. STRENGTHEN KALISPELL AS A REGIONAL RETAIL CENTER THAT STRIVES TO CAPTURE
MORE LOCAL AND OUT OF COUNTY DOLLARS.
Policies:
1. The growth policy should be a key element in guiding economic development efforts.
2. Provide adequate space for growth that carefully considers the type, location, and
design of industrial sites, shopping areas, and tourist facilities.
3. Work with business and industrial associations to promote and coordinate business and
industry in accordance with the growth policy.
4. Work with economic development organizations to further growth policy goals and
policies and to encourage countywide coordination of their efforts.
5. Support the Kalispell area's position as a regional commercial center and a location of
major healthcare, government, industrial facilities and retail services.
261Page The Economy
6. Support activities to ensure that the Central Business District remains strong and viable
by protecting and promoting the historic district; make downtown more aesthetically
appealing; cater to the needs of the pedestrian; promote downtown events and
activities; encourage a compatible mix of retail, restaurants, services, entertainment,
and housing.
7. Support amenities and activities that promote the Kalispell area as a retirement,
tourism, convention, and arts destination.
Recommendations:
1. Support the business improvement districts (BID) to strengthen commercial districts
within the City.
2. Coordinate with Flathead Job Service and other organizations to develop jobs within the
City.
3. Pursue grants to help with economic development and locating businesses within the
City.
4. Develop incentives for business and industry that offer higher paying wages to
encourage them to locate within the City.
5. Focus efforts on the downtown and core area neighborhood for grants to assist in
business retention, expansion and attraction.
271Page The Economy
Chapter 5: Natural Environment
Important natural resource and environmental factors in the growth policy area include hydrology,
floodplains, air quality, steep slopes, soil limitations, wildfire hazards, trees, forest cover, wildlife
habitat, and agricultural lands. The topography and geography of the Kalispell growth policy area
presents certain development constraints due to wetlands, steep slopes, floodplains, and hydric
soils. Most of the growth policy area consists of nearly level alluvial lands, bottom lands, and low
terraces. The Flathead, Whitefish, and Stillwater Rivers in the eastern half of the growth policy
area are part of a large riparian complex which creates a large floodplain area. Steep slopes in the
southwest portion of the growth policy area pose limitations to development. The steep slopes in
combination with timberlands create wildfire hazards. Productive farmlands in the southern and
northern part of the growth policy area contribute to the cultural, economic, and historic character
of the growth policy area. The preservation of agricultural lands within the Growth Policy Planning
Area is important for maintaining the rural character of the Flathead Valley and for the fulfillment
of a logical, efficient pattern of planned growth.
Issues:
1. The natural environment is an important part of what makes the area an appealing
place to live which may be jeopardized as unplanned growth occurs.
2. Various key sectors of the area's economy depend upon and impact the natural
environment.
3. Development of the farming, ranching and woodland areas reduce open space that
functions in a practical and productive manner.
4. The 100-year floodplain is prevalent in many areas and poses significant development
limitations due to federal permitting requirements, fill limitations, and subdivision
restrictions.
5. Development of agricultural lands that provide a source of food and wood products,
export income, scenic open space, wildlife habitat are at risk because of economic and
development pressures.
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6. Conservation easements and similar voluntary mechanisms have become successful
methods of conserving agricultural land, but no local government programs currently
exist to purchase development rights.
7. High land costs are a major impediment to maintaining and expanding the farming
business.
8. Soil stability and erosion pose limitations on development on or near sloping sites,
particularly along the high banks of the Whitefish and Stillwater Rivers.
9. Water quality continues to be an important issue to the community and ways to avoid
nutrient loading and other forms of water contamination to the Flathead River Basin
become critical.
10. Wildlife and wildlife habitat is being displaced by residential development resulting in
the loss of important habitat.
11. Areas disturbed during development of subdivision roads, building sites and other
construction activity can contribute to erosion and the spread of noxious weeds if not
properly restored and maintained.
12. The City's street tree inventory is largely split between very mature trees and young
trees installed as part of new subdivisions in the past ten years.
13. The City's street tree population was heavily impacted by Dutch Elm Disease, and the
removal of the dead trees has exceeded the Parks Department's financial and personnel
resource capacities creating a backlog of deferred maintenance.
GOALS:
1. ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH OR ENHANCES NATURAL
RESOURCE VALUES INCLUDING AIR, WATER, SOIL, AND VEGETATION.
2. DEVELOPMENT NEAR ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED
3. HIGH LEVELS OF AIR QUALITY AND WATER QUALITY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED THROUGH
DESIGN STANDARDS.
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4. DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH IMPORTANT WILDLIFE HABITAT
CORRIDORS.
5. PROTECT THE HEALTH AND INTEGRITY OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE OF
ITS IMPORTANCE IN MAINTAINING A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE WITH OTHER REGIONS.
6. PROTECT WETLAND AND RIPARIAN AREAS SINCE THEY ARE IMPORTANT IN FLOOD
PROTECTION, MAINTAINING WATER QUALITY, AND PROVIDING HABITAT.
7. ENCOURAGE HIGHER DENSITY MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS ON LANDS WITHIN AND
CLOSE TO THE CITY LIMITS.
8. DISCOURAGE SUBURBAN AND EXURBAN PATTERNS OF GROWTH ON AGRICULTURAL
LANDS SURROUNDING THE CITY.
9. WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY ON PRESERVING AGRICULTURAL LANDS WITHIN THE
GROWTH POLICY PLANNING AREA.
Policies:
1. Encourage infill, clustering, and other compact development patterns to lessen impacts
on sensitive lands.
2. Implement measures to assist in maintaining high water quality and load reduction for
the Flathead Basin.
3. Development in areas that have known high groundwater in close proximity to public
utilities should be discouraged until such time as public sewer is available.
4. Encourage and create incentives to conserve agricultural lands.
5. Encourage urban growth only on agricultural lands entirely within the City's annexation
policy boundary.
6. Encourage the use of conservation easements to protect productive agricultural lands
outside of the City's annexation policy boundary.
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7. Noxious weed controls should be implemented through revegetation of disturbed areas
immediately after development along with adequate controls after development.
8. Support right to farm language in developments adjacent to or in close proximity of
farmland.
9. Protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat should be encouraged through conscientious
actions such as not feeding large wild animal species, maintaining important habitat
areas, and limiting loose dogs.
10. Wildlife travel corridors should be conserved and maintained possibly through
easements or other voluntary restrictions.
11. To prevent compromises to the built and natural environment, utilities shall be placed
underground in new developments, hilltop or ridgetop development should be avoided,
signage should be simple and unobtrusive, and lighting shall be dark -sky compliant.
12. Development should be designed to avoid and minimize impacts to the environmentally
sensitive areas including:
a. The 100-year floodplain
b. Wetlands, riparian areas and shallow aquifers
c. Streams and rivers
d. Steep slopes
e. High bank areas adjacent to the Whitefish and Stillwater Rivers and their
tributaries.
13. A healthy, sustainable urban forest along city streets, in parks and open space lands, and
on private property is vital to the quality of life in the community, the value of property,
and mitigating other environmental impacts.
Recommendations:
1. The City should coordinate with the County in developing a community -wide drainage
plan encompassing the City and surrounding suburbs, to reduce water pollution and
flooding.
2. Coordinate regulatory programs involving floodplains, wetlands, and riparian areas,
including unstable river banks, steep slopes, wildlife habitat, and water quality.
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3. Limit and mitigate impacts related to outdoor lighting by enforcing dark sky compliant
lighting regulations.
4. Protect the shallow aquifers as sensitive water quality zones and establish performance
standards.
5. Develop and implement a non -point source pollution abatement plan for the growth
policy area.
6. Develop an Urban Forestry Management Plan for the City that describes the tree
inventory of the City, identifies short and long range management prescriptions, lays out
the resources needed to manage the resource, and proposes strategies for maintaining
and managing the City's tree and forest cover.
7. Work with developers early in the process to maintain and protect existing trees when
development is proposed and consider providing parkland credits when significant trees
or stands of trees are protected in long-term conservation easements.
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