01-09-17 City Council Work Session MinutesKALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES
JANUARY 9, 2017
View the minutes attached to the audio of the meeting at:
http://kalispell.com/mayor and city council/Streaming AV php
A WORK SESSION OF THE KALISPELL CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON MONDAY,
JANUARY 9, 2017, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT CITY HALL IN KALISPELL,
MONTANA. MAYOR MARK JOHNSON PRESIDED. COUNCIL MEMBERS SANDY
CARLSON, KARI GABRIEL, CHAD GRAHAM, PHIL GUIFFRIDA, TIM KLUESNER,
ROD KUNTZ, AND WAYNE SAVERUD WERE PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER JIM
ATKINSON WAS ABSENT.
Also present: City Manager Doug Russell, City Attorney Charles Harball, Public Works Director
Susie Turner, Planning Director Tom Jentz, and Senior Planner Jarod Nygren.
Mayor Johnson called the work session to order.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. Light Maintenance Fund Update
Turner gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Light Maintenance Fund, stating Public Works is
looking for comments or concerns from council about the process. She also noted there has been a
request from the Glacier Village Greens Homeowner's Association to take over their luminaires.
There was discussion and Turner answered questions.
Public Comment
None.
2. Lofts at Ashley Apartment Complex Conditional Use Permit Request
Russell introduced the topic and asked Nygren to further describe the issue with the building
materials.
Nygren said the Architectural Review Committee was looking for guidance and the developer has
some concerns.
Jentz and Nygren answered questions.
Graham suggested the following replacement language for condition 3 of the CUP: "To insure
neighborhood compatibility, prior to issuance of a building permit, all finishes must be reviewed by
ARC to provide for neighborhood design characteristics."
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January 9, 2017
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Mayor Johnson remarked that council does not want to legislate taste and that an individual should
be able to develop their property the way they want to without infringing on others. He said
compromise, not legislation, should be emphasized.
Guiffrida remarked he does not want to dictate at the legislative level.
Kluesner commented he is standing up for the neighborhood and wants to help them out. He said the
neighbors don't want a brand new "30 year old" looking building next door to them and council has
a responsibility to guide the process.
There was further discussion.
Council consensus was that it is up to the Architectural Review Committee to determine the finishes
of the buildings.
Public Comment
Phyllis Lucht, 2351 Coot Court, remarked that she will be looking at the back side of the new
development and will lose her view. She asked for a higher berm for noise reduction because the
noise carries in that neighborhood.
Dave Weber, owner/developer, said the homes in the neighborhood are a patchwork; different ages,
different types of structures, no covenants, and to say the neighborhood is not in harmony is an
understatement. He said the buildings will not look like old barns.
Mike Morgan, developer, emphasized that they did not think they would be into finishes at this phase
of the process. He said the drawings are not the finishes they are proposing; they will be using a
contemporary and not a rustic design. He reiterated this is not the final project look and they would
like the freedom to develop the design as they go.
Lorraine Reid, 2256 Canvasback Court, said she is a member of the neighborhood group and
commented a utilitarian building design is not the best design. She said they have a list of things the
neighborhood would like to see and their main concern is not seeing corrugated steel and the "rustic"
look.
3. Silverbrook Planned Unit Development Amendment Request
Russell noted Silverbrook has previously requested changes to their PUD.
Jentz and Nygren explained Silverbrook's request for modification, noting it is a major amendment
and therefore comes before council, and answered questions.
Nygren stated that Mann Mortgage is driving the request; they want to build their national
headquarters there and would like a larger office building than what is currently allowed.
Kluesner remarked that the KRMC clinic is fine for the neighborhood, but the Mann Mortgage
building would be too much for the area.
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January 9, 2017
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Guiffrida suggested a public hearing be held because the neighborhood should be able to speak, and
noted that the commercial area does not want to lose the neighborhood feel.
Jentz emphasized the commercial development hinges on the 40,000 square foot size and that the
request does not have to go through the Planning Board because it is coming from the original
developer.
Council consensus was to hold a public hearing at an upcoming council meeting.
Public Comment
Marvin Galts, owner of Silverbrook Estates, remarked that they can not get the commercial
development off the ground if they can't expand the size of the building. He said they had a
community meeting which expressed unanimous support for the expansion, because the land will be
dormant otherwise, and commented that they need a change in the PUD to make it marketable in
order to move forward with development.
Alan Mann, original developer, stated that times and economies have changed and that a grocery
store anchor is probably not going to happen. He said the PUD amendment would make the projects
feasible.
CITY MANAGER/COUNCIL/MAYOR REPORTS
Russell updated council on upcoming legislative activity in Helena.
Mayor Johnson noted he appreciates the legislative updates from Russell and that he recently spoke
with Congressman Zinke regarding the Burlington Northern tracks through the city.
ADJOURNMENT
The work session was adjourned at 9:01 pin.
Prepared by:
`�� Judi Funk
Attest: o��F �,Deputy City Clerk
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Ainke Brunckhorst, CMC
City Clerk W' ®\
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January 9, 2017
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