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03-08-16 - Regular MeetingKALISPELL CITY PLANNING BOARD & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING MARCH 8, 2016 CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL The regular meeting of the Kalispell City Planning Board and CALL Zoning Commission was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Board members present were: Chad Graham, Charles Pesola, Rory Young, Steve Lorch and Karlene Osorio-Khor. Matt Regier and Doug Kauffman were absent. Tom Jentz, Jarod Nygren and PJ Sorensen represented the Kalispell Planning Department. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Osorio-Khor moved and Lorch seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the February 9, 2016 meeting of the Kalispell City Planning Board and Zoning Commission. VOTE BY ACCLAMATION The motion passed unanimously on a vote by acclamation. PUBLIC COMMENT No one wished to speak. GLACIER RAIL PARK The City of Kalispell in conjunction with the Flathead County DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) is seeking to foster TARGETED ECONOMIC the development of secondary, value adding industries within the DEVELOP MENT DISTRICT proposed Glacier Rail Park Development Plan Area as part of the City's overall mission to meet its needs of promoting economic development, improving area employment opportunities and expanding the community's tax base. This effort would be made possible through the creation of a Targeted Economic Development District (TEDD) on approximately 49 acres of land. The Glacier Rail Park Plan Boundary is generally bound by Whitefish Stage Road to the west, Stillwater River to the north, BNSF tracks to the east and Oregon Street to the south. The TEDD boundary is a tract of land located in the N1/2 of Section 8, Township 28 North, Range 21 West. P.M.M., Flathead County, Montana. STAFF REPORT Jarod Nygren, representing the Kalispell Planning Department reviewed the TEDD plan and a map that indicates the Glacier Rail Park Development Plan and TEDD boundaries. Staff recommends that the Kalispell Planning & Zoning Commission adopt the Glacier Rail Park Development Plan for the Targeted Economic Development District (TEDD) as findings of fact and approve the Glacier Rail Park development plan as provided. BOARD DISCUSSION None. PUBLIC HEARING Adam Steele, 122 Riverside Drive said he received a notice and asked what will occur within the buffer zone and Nygren Kalispell City Planning Board Minutes of the meeting of March 8, 2016 Page I 1 explained the notice was sent to inform property owners that there was a project in the vicinity. No development will occur within the buffer, only within the Glacier Rail Park boundary. Jentz explained further. Steele asked, what is the game plan for traffic on Whitefish Stage Road and Graham noted there will not be any truck traffic from the rail park using Whitefish Stage Road. Jentz said the design is the truck traffic exiting the rail park would most likely use Flathead Drive, where a traffic light will be installed, and the truck traffic entering the rail park would most likely use Montclair Road. Tony Kavanagh, representing Glacier Stone Supply, 955 Whitefish Stage Road asked for clarification of the map and the TEDD District. Jentz said although his property is within the Glacier Rail Park plan boundary it is not within the TEDD. Being within the plan boundary would not regulate his property in any way nor does it increase his tax rate in any way. Jentz further explained what the TEDD is and what the funding would be used for. Jentz added all the tax that is paid stays in his area for infrastructure. It is a financing tool to help build an area and create more jobs. MOTION Lorch moved and Pesola seconded a motion to adopt the Glacier Rail Park Development Plan for Targeted Economic Development District (TEDD) as findings of fact and approve the Glacier Rail Park Development Plan as provided. BOARD DISCUSSION None. ROLL CALL The motion passed unanimously, on a roll call vote. SOUTH KALISPELL URBAN CTA Architects was hired to update the South Kalispell Urban RENEWAL PLAN Renewal Plan. The urban renewal plan was first adopted in 1996 and addressed a host of issues, many of which have been accomplished. CTA has now completed the plan update. The plan contains an executive summary, a series of recommendations for the South Kalispell area and provides 5 different scenarios for the future of the airport property. The 5 scenarios include keeping the airport and management as it is today using city funding to maintain the operational status of the airport, closing the airport, requesting FAA funding for the airport, incorporation of the airport property into an Airport Authority and finally privatizing the airport. The plan boundary is generally bound by 18t' Street to the north, Cemetery Road to the south, Airport Road to the West and U.S. 93 to the east. Kalispell City Planning Board Minutes of the meeting of March 8, 2016 Page 12 STAFF REPORT KCU-15-06 Tom Jentz, representing the Kalispell Planning Department provided an overview of the plan and public review to this point. Jentz briefly reviewed the South Kalispell Urban Renewal Plan and noted about a year ago the city hired CTA & Associates to help the city plan for the South Kalispell area, the entrance way into the city, and the city airport. CTA held informational meetings, set up a website, contacted the public, and developed a draft plan that focused on encouraging growth, development and redevelopment in the South Kalispell area. There were 10 different projects that they suggested to encourage the development of South Kalispell and a series of recommendations on what to do with the airport. The airport was focused because it is the single largest entity in South Kalispell. The city council had moved to provide some improvements for the airport including moving the runway about 1,000 feet south, canting it about 5 degrees so that the approach would be over Main Street, and using some other improvements using FAA funding. That decision was then rescinded by a referendum vote which has left the airport in somewhat of a flux. The city council knew that they couldn't proceed with that plan but they didn't have a clear direction from the public where to go. The 5 options that were developed for the city airport are as follows: • Keep the airport as it is. Jentz noted there was a lot of maintenance that had not been completed for years which equates to about $200,000 a year for about 5 years that needed to be addressed. • Close the airport. Closing the airport has certain costs because there are a series of leases out there and each lease is a bit different. The runway would have to be physically removed and the leases compensated. • Request FAA funding for airport in its current alignment. The airport does not qualify for FAA funding today. We asked the consultant to determine what the minimum improvements would be to allow the airport to be eligible for FAA funding. In effect we found out that the airport would have to be upgraded to a B-2 standard and the upgrades would look very much like the proposal that was rejected by the referendum vote 2 years ago. Thus while FAA funding could still be available, politically that door has been closed. • Incorporation into an Airport Authority. Is a local form of government that would take over the airport and operate it as a separate public entity. Kalispell City Planning Board Minutes of the meeting of March 8, 2016 Page 13 • Privatize the airport. Is a private entity operating the airport. Jentz noted the board's focus is not to choose a recommendation or component but to hold a public hearing and take comments, see if the plan has adequately addressed all of the issues, is there anything missing, and finally is it appropriate to move the plan onto city council. The plan goes outside the city limits and is an advisory document in those areas. It also gives specific direction to the tax increment finance district (TIF) created in 1996 that currently has $2.9 million in redevelopment funds, available over the next four years, that could be used to develop some of the options or improvements to the airport. BOARD DISCUSSION Osorio-Khor asked about the delayed maintenance and Jentz said the airport planning process has gone on since the mid-90s. Radio towers needed to be moved and the environmental & engineering documents needed to be updated and the city didn't want to invest money for an airport that would be changed. Osorio-Khor said so the basic maintenance didn't happen because there was no plan and Jentz said there was a plan and they were trying to get to the point of developing the plan. Osorio-Khor asked why there wasn't a standard policy with respect to the leases. Jentz said the airport developed over time, there were different managers and some of the leases are for different types of uses. Standardization did finally come in time. Osorio-Khor asked is there a consequence to accepting the $8 million FAA funding and Jentz said when you receive monies you pledge to operate the airport according to FAA standards for a long period time and there were reservations about that. Osorio-Khor asked about the $2.9 million and if it is available to address maintenance, leases and updating the documents. Jentz explained how tax increment finance districts work. He said that money can be used for water and sewer mains, redevelopment of sites, and can be used to clear the airport of existing businesses and lease holders by making them whole. However it cannot be used for maintenance. Osorio-Khor said this additional information is important as this issue has been very contentious and controversial. Graham asked if the suggestions about the referendum and clarifying the history had been added to the plan and Jentz said the consultant is working on those additions. Kalispell City Planning Board Minutes of the meeting of March 8, 2016 Page 14 Graham asked about the email from Joe Matulevich, which the board received in their packets, and if there was an assumption made about the availability of the land for the various development projects in the plan. Jentz said one-half to two-thirds of the projects are occurring on existing public land. They are not talking about taking people's land but saying it may make sense to have a facility in a reasonable location. It was casting a vision and the plan would require a public entity to acquire a property to accomplish the specific project but none of the projects are contingent on a specific site. Osorio-Khor said regarding privatization of the airport, do they see that as a conflict. Jentz said when we are talking about privatizing the airport it would involve someone out there who wants to contract with the city to manage the airport as a private party and make a go of it. Minimum safety measures and improvements would have to be done and there would be risk because it is unsure whether there is a potential for profit. The city would still have oversight as they would be leasing the property. PUBLIC HEARING No one wished to speak and the hearing was closed. BOARD DISCUSSION Jentz noted the board could consider continuing the discussion to the April 121h meeting when the final draft document should be ready and the board could take action at that meeting. Lorch asked if they board can take public comment at the next meeting and staff said yes, written comments will be accepted as well. MOTION Osorio-Khor moved and Lorch seconded a motion to continue this discussion to the April 12, 2016 planning board meeting in order to receive the draft with the recommended changes by the board. BOARD DISCUSSION None. ROLL CALL The motion passed unanimously, on a roll call vote. OLD BUSINESS: Jentz reviewed the actions by the council on the Core Area B-3 Business zone and the zone change request for the Moose's property at the intersection of North Main and Idaho. NEW BUSINESS: Nygren noted next month there will be a conditional use permit for the Sparrow's Nest Living Facility located on 7th Avenue West and 2nd Street West. This facility would house homeless teens. Osorio-Khor said she wanted to comment on the discussion regarding the high school parking district from the minutes of the Kalispell City Planning Board Minutes of the meeting of March 8, 2016 Page 15 February meeting. She said she knows that her neighbors are calling the police, especially on 3rd Avenue West and 61h, 7th and 8d' streets with parking problems. She added this is obviously still a story unfolding. Lorch noted hopefully they will get used to the rules and tired of paying fines and the district will operate a bit smoother. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:50 p.m. WORK SESSION: Following the regular meeting a work session was held on the following: 1. Kalispell Zoning Ordinance Update (housekeeping items) NEXT MEETING The next regular planning board meeting is scheduled for April 12, 2016 beginning at 7:00 p.m. and located in the Kalispell City Council Chambers, 201 1 st Avenue East, Kalispell. /s/ Chad Graham Chad Graham President APPROVED as submitted: 4/12/16 /s/ Michelle Anderson Michelle Anderson Recording Secretary Kalispell City Planning Board Minutes of the meeting of March 8, 2016 Page 16