05-13-22 City Manager Report1
City of Kalispell
OFFICE OF THE CITY
MANAGER
Information Memorandum
5/13/2022
1. Public Works
50/50 Sidewalk Replacement Program
In order to encourage the replacement of deteriorated sidewalks the City of Kalispell has
established a cost sharing sidewalk replacement program. The City will equally share the
cost of replacing boulevard sidewalks with the adjoining property owner. Annually the
City appropriates funds for this program and the program is administered on a first come
first serve basis.
The City has contracted with a local sidewalk contractor utilizing the competitive bidding
process, and Public Works Staff is working on multiple work orders for sidewalk
replacement. The 50/50 program allows property owners to utilize competitive bid prices
to have their sidewalks replaced. The Public Works Department provides engineering and
inspection services at no expense to the property owner.
City of Kalispell Move 2040 - Public Viewer Map
Recently the Move 2040 Interactive Map was added to the City’s GIS Hub Website at
Kalispell Public GIS Hub (arcgis.com). With this addition to the GIS Mapping Portal, the
public is able to access a clickable map housing extensive information on the Move 2040
Kalispell Area Transportation Plan. This map is the result of an effort to produce accurate
and useful City data for all users. The interactive map provides information, referenced
2
from the plan, including:
• Existing conditions (functional classes, v/c ratio,
model volumes, existing bike and pedestrian
paths, intersection level of service, land uses
planning data, ect.)
• Safety Analysis (crash data)
• Future conditions (functional classes, v/c ratio,
model volumes, existing bike and pedestrian
paths, intersection level of service, land uses
planning data, ect.)
• Project Recommendations
• Bicycle and Pedestrian System Analysis
2. Planning Department
The Planning Board held a public hearing on May 10 and heard six application requests.
The application requests consisted of the following:
1. The Board held a public hearing regarding the environmental review record for
the proposed sewer and water project that will provide city service to the Morning
Star Court Community, as required by the Montana Environmental Policy Act
(MEPA). Morning Star Court is a cooperatively owned affordable-housing mobile
home community, consisting of 41 residential units, located at 1717 South
Woodland Drive. The community is proposing to abandon their aged onsite water
and wastewater infrastructure and connect to adjacent City of Kalispell services.
At the public hearing the proposed project was explained, including the purpose
and proposed area of the project, activities, budget, possible sources of funding,
environmental review findings and any costs that may result for local citizens as a
result of the project. Copies of the draft environmental record is available at
Kalispell City Hall Development Services Department, 201 1st Avenue East,
Kalispell, MT 59901.
2. File # KA-22-04 – A request from Morning Star Community, Inc. for annexation
and initial zoning of R-4 (Residential) for property located at 1717 South
Woodland Drive containing 5.88 acres. The proposal would annex an existing
mobile home park to allow for the units to connect to city sanitary sewer, which is
located within the South Woodland Drive right-of-way.
3. Files #KA-22-01 and KPUD-22-01 – A request from Kelcey and Tawnya
Bingham for annexation and initial zoning with a Commercial Planned Unit
Development overlay on approximately 37.6 acres of land. The development,
called the Farm District, would be a mixed-use development with a focus on an
indoor youth athletic and arts facility along with commercial and residential uses.
The property is located at the northwest corner of Highway 93 North and Church
Drive and can be described as a tract of land situated, lying and being in the east
half of the southeast quarter of Section 12, Township 29 North, Range 22 West,
3
P.M.M, Flathead County, Montana.
4.File #KPUD-22-02 – A request from JCA Management, LLC, for a Commercial
Planned Unit Development (“PUD”) overlay on approximately 9.72 acres of land.
The property is currently zoned B-2 with a placeholder PUD overlay, which
requires a full PUD submittal prior to development. The proposal includes
locating a truck and RV Center on the property. The property is located at 3178
Highway 93 South near the intersection of Highway 93 and the Bypass.
5.Files #KA-22-03, KGPA-22-01 and KZC-22-03 – A request from Spartan
Holdings for a zone change, growth policy map amendment and annexation and
initial zoning of property, to be known as Eagle Valley Ranch Addition on 6.8
acres of land at 3201 U.S. 93 North. The developer of Eagle Valley Ranch PUD
has acquired land adjacent to their development (Homefitters) and neighboring
property currently within the County that is being requested to be included in the
Eagle Valley Ranch PUD. The application includes a zone change of the existing
Homefitters building which is City R-2 to the Eagle Valley Ranch PUD, and
annexation and initial zoning of surrounding County property from County
SAG-10 to the Eagle Valley Ranch PUD. The request would also include a growth
policy map amendment from suburban residential to urban mixed use on those
properties annexing into the city, allowing for neighborhood commercial uses,
similar to the commercial properties within the current Eagle Valley Ranch PUD.
The goal of the change is similar to that of the original PUD which is to provide a
diverse neighborhood close to existing services and commercial development on
the north side of Kalispell and allows for inclusion of properties that are currently
segregated from the development. The proposed development is generally situated
along Highway 93 south of Ponderosa Residential Subdivision, east of Northern
Pines Golf Course and north of the Montana National Guard facilities in the West
½ of Section 19, Township 29 North, Range 21 West, P.M.M., Flathead County,
Montana.
6.File KZTA-22-01 – A request from the City of Kalispell for a zoning text
amendment amending Section 27.07.010 of the Kalispell Zoning Ordinance. The
amendment would change the intent of the R-4 (Residential) zoning district to
include areas designated as suburban residential in addition to urban residential on
the Kalispell Growth Policy Future Land Use Map.
The Board did recommend approval of the six application requests. The
recommendations will be forwarded on to the Council for consideration at their June
6 meeting.
The Board also held a work session on the items listed below:
1.Files #KPP-22-05, KPUD-22-03, and KZC-22-04 – A request from 520 Three
Mile Drive Associates, LLC, for a zone change with a Residential Planned Unit
Development (“PUD”) overlay and major preliminary plat on approximately 20.0
acres of land. The development, called Aspen Creek West, would include 60
residential lots (31 detached single-family and 29 townhomes) along with roads,
4
parks, and open space. The property is located at 520 Three Mile Drive.
The public hearing for the development will be considered by the Board at their June 14
meeting.
3.Building Department
In the last 2 weeks, we have issued permits for 7 single-family homes and 2 townhomes.
That will bring the total of new single-family/duplex and townhouse units for the year to
72, compared to 91 last year at this time.
There have been 85 multi-family housing units issued so far this year. Last year, at this
time, we had issued 148 multi-family housing units.
There was a total of 196 combined building and/or fire inspections completed in the last 2
weeks.
Residential – 64 Plumbing – 18
Commercial – 25 Mechanical - 13
Electrical – 18 Fire – 58
4.Community Development
The US Department of Transportation has opened another grant opportunity for which the
West Reserve Drive: Hutton Ranch Road to Whitefish Stage Road Intersection project is
eligible. Therefore, the City is preparing a grant to be submitted under the Rural Surface
Transportation Grant program in mid-May. The purpose in doing so is to improve the
likelihood of funding. As additional federal grant opportunities are released, Community
Development staff will continue to look for grant opportunities that fit local needs.
5.Fire Department
From the time period of April 27 to May 10, the Fire Department had 192 responses. Of
these, there were 145 medical incidents, 1 RV Fire, 1 brush/grass fire, 3 Rubbish fires, 7
Motor vehicle accident with injuries, 4 Fire alarm activations, 8 public assists, 2 Haz-Mat
incidents, and 20 dispatched and canceled en-route.
Our 4 new recruits have been cleared to work on their own now and are released from
their training.
Kalispell Fire will be participating in fire training this Thursday with West Valley Fire.
Kalispell Fire Crews completed fire pre-plans for the Flathead Valley Community
College campus.
5
Non Haz Mat techs are nearing completion of their Haz-Mat awareness training.
Kalispell Fire attended the annual Safety Fair at the fairgrounds and were able to connect
with community members and hundreds of children giving tours of equipment, answering
fire safety questions and networking with other community partners.
The order was placed for a new Self Contained Breathing Apparatus Compressor and Fill
Station for Station 61. This is coordinated with the recent purchase of our new SCBA’s.
Kalispell Fire did a public outreach with Civil Air Patrol, providing fire and life safety
education for their members.