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08-08-17 - Regular MeetingKALISPELL CITY PLANNING BOARD & ZONING COMMISSION MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING August 8, 2017 CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL The regular meeting of the Kalispell City Planning Board and Zoning CALL Commission was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Board members present were: Chad Graham, George Giavasis, Doug Kauffman, Rory Young and Steve Lorch. Ronalee Skees and Christopher Yerkes were absent, Tom Jentz, Jarod Nygren and PJ Sorensen represented the Kalispell Planning Department, APPROVAL OF MINUTES Young moved and Lorch seconded a motion to approve the minutes Of the July 11, 2017 meeting of the Kalispell City Planning Board and Zoning Commission. VOTE BY ACCLAMATION The motion passed unanimously on a vote of acclamation. PUBLIC COMMENT None, A request by Housing Solutions LLC to hold a Public meeting and -seek input on a competitive application to be submitted to the Montana Housing Board for the construction of a 40-unit elderly housing project at 110 Financial Drive using Housing Tax Credits. Alex Burkhalter with Housing Solutions LLC presented information on the proposed housing project. Offered to answer any questions that the board or the public may have, PUBLIC HEARING None, BOARD DISCUSSION Chad Graham said he is happy to see this project coming through. -Tom Jentz agreed that this is a good looking project in a great location, providing great services. Jentz also noted that the Current vacancy rate in Kalispell is about 1.4% so a project such as this would be very beneficial. 11,`CpLl(1'1'1� A request by the City of Kalispell to amend the Kalispell Growth -Policy 11'LAN-1'1'2()3,5 Plan -It 2035 by including "The Downtown Plan" as neighborhood plan JPL,�%,N within the growth policy. The Downtown Plan takes a careful and considerate look at Kalispell's historic downtown and courthouse corridor. STAFF REPORT Jarod Nygren, representing the Kalispell Planning Department reviewed File #KGPA-1 7-02. Nygren went through a brief history of the progress of this plan. He noted that staff has been working on this for several years following the core area plan and there have been 2 work sessions in regards to the plan over the last few months. Numerous parking studies have been done as well as over 100 interviews with downtown business owners within the downtown boundary. He mentioned that staff has also had numerous meetings with the Downtown Parking Committee, the Downtown Business Expansion and Retention Group, the Business I!E �rovmcnt Kalispell CiLy Planning Board PANILIteS of the meeting of ,August 8,2017 Z�l Page I 1 District and the. Kalispell Downtown Association. The Downtown Plan draft has been emailed to over 100 business owners as well as the Kalispell. Downtown Association. Nygren then proceeded to point out some of the numerous public comments that have come in. He then recommended that the board open up the public hearing and get sorne additional comments. Then following the public hearing the board can go through each of the comments one by one and then proceed from there. BOARD DISCUSSION Graham asked about parking management plan and if there was one in place. Nygren responded that we currently do not but that it's included in the Downtown. Plan. PUBLIC HEARING Richard Turbiak — 35 4`0' St W, Kalispell — Citizens For a Better Flathead — commented on the plan and that the Citizens For a Better Flathead supports the Downtown Plan but are concerned with the possible increase in liquor/gaming licenses in the corridor, which conflict with the „sense of place" Nancy Christenson — 513 W Colorado St — feels the proposed sig;nage to direct truck traffic to the bypass will not work, she feels the roundabouts should be removed in order to get the trucks to use the bypass. She also feels the couplet should be left as is for historical purposes. MOTION- ORIGINAL Lorch mowed and Young seconded a motion that the Kalispell City Planning Board and Zoning Commission approve the Downtown Plan as an amendment to the Kalispell Growth Policy Plan -It 2035 and authorize the planning board president to sign. Resolution #KGPA-17-02, a resolution amending the Kalispell Growth Policy Plan -It 2035 by approving the Downtown Plan as a neighborhood plan. BOARD DISCUSSION Lorch inquired about the public comment letter received from MDT in regards to working towards a common goal. Jentz replied that yes The City and MDT will work together to find solutions to make this plan. work. Graham asked about the Environmental Impact Statement that was conducted in 1994 and if it would still stand. Jentz replied that a new one would need to be done because the environment has significantly changed. Young suggested that the board go through each of the public comment items that Nygren presented individually and give the staff guidance on the ones they think they need to and which ones that they acknowledge the public comment on but don't think need to be included in the plan. Graham and the board agreed. #1 — Table of comments — Nygren advised that more detail will be added to the table of comments per public comments. #2 — Town Square/Pedestrian Mall — Discussion of shutting down a street to create an "outdoor" mall, whether temporary or permanent. Board feels that it should be included in the plan as a future possibility. #3 — Bike Connections/routes — Jentz noted that the staff's vision is to connect the Core Area trail with the Downtown Plan trail. Nygren feels that the plan adequately addresses the trails. Board agreed. #4 — An led Parkin on Main ,St — Nygren advised that after a lot of staff Kalisp 0l City Planning Beard Minutes of the meeting of August 8, 2017 Page 12 discussion that the angled parking is not really feasible on Main St but that it may be an option on other streets. The Plan does not exclude angled parking. Board agreed. #5 — Arch Standards, including signs — Nygren advised upon approval of the Plan that staff would lean on the Architectural Review Board to help them set a standard for downtown to maintain historical theme and character, which would subsequently go through the public review process, #6 — Arts, including creation of an arts commission — Board advised staff they don't feel it belongs in the Downtown Plan, they feel that it should be a part of and financed in the private sector but that the Plan should mention support of an art commission and arts related projects downtown. #7 — Reduced Impact Fees for downtown — Graham suggested the use of a TIF. Nygren advised there is mention of a TIF in the plan. #8 — Incorporation of BID boundary map — Board agreed the addition of a BID boundary snap into the plan. #9 — Employee parking/all day parking not addressed — Board feels staff has adequately addressed the parking issues in the plan, #10 — New light at US 93 and Airport Rd — Nygren advised that this would be something to include in the updated transportation plan but that it is a very important topic that needs to be addressed especially with the addition of the new school on Airport Road. #11 — MDT Comments — Board would like to see the comments ,Submitted by MDT incorporated into the plan, Nygren advised that staff will go back through the Plan and make changes to bring back to the board. MOTION — TABLE DISCUSSION Young moved and Kauffman seconded a motion that the Kalispell City UNTIL 9/12/17 MEETING Planning Board and Zoning Commission table this agenda itern and continue the discussion at the next board meeting on September 12, 2017. VOTE BY ACCLAMATION The motion passed unanimously on a vote of acclamation. OLD BUSINESS None. NEW BUSINESS Nygren briefly reviewed next month's agenda items. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:41pm. NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Kalispell Planning Board will be held on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. and located in the Kalispell City Council Chambers, 201 1" Ave East. Chad Graham President APPROVED as submitted/amended: 9/12/2017 Kalispell City Planning Board MimlteS of the nieetiiig ol'AUgHSI 8, 2017 Page 113 z'