Kalispell Council to vote on grant for shared-use path along U.S. 93

Yahoo

07-04-2025

Apr. 7—The shabby dirt path forged by people walking along U.S. 93 between Logan Health Medical Center with downtown Kalispell may be getting a facelift.
City Council on Monday will decide whether to apply for a state grant to fund construction of a shared use path on the east side of U.S. 93. (Sunset Boulevard) going from Wyoming Street, up along the Buffalo Hill Golf Course to Mission Street.
Council meets at 7 p.m., April 7 in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.
The existing section "lacks any connectivity (other than a dirt path), offers poor site distances, has numerous access intersections and access points with limited control and has traffic speeds of 35 [miles per hour] and higher," read a city memo from Development Services Director Jarod Nygren.
"When combined, these conditions make walking or biking this heavily traveled route unsafe and impractical, limiting connectivity between two major employment centers in the community," continued the memo.
Upgrading the walkway is part of a larger project to build out the shared-use path further north to Bountiful Drive. The entire project, though, would cost around $2.68 million, and the Montana Department of Transportation's Transportation Alternatives grant could only cover building the southern portion, which is an estimated $648,000.
If Council wanted to build the entire path in one go, they would have to throw in roughly $1.2 million, which Nygren said has not been placed in the budget. Council could wait until another round of grant funding pops up to pay for the rest of the project, he said.
Kalispell has used the grant program in the past for trails along U.S. 93 and Four Mile Drive.
The city hired KLJ Engineering to prepare the path designs. The firm recommended following the existing horizontal and vertical alignments of Sunset Boulevard, adding a 30-inch curb and gutter, a 6-foot boulevard and a 10-foot paved path along the northeasterly side of the road.
DEVELOPERS of the Timberwolf Ridge subdivision are requesting final plat approval for phase one of the development.
The entire development would see the construction of up to 400 apartment units across six buildings at 605 Stillwater Road at the intersection with Timberwolf Parkway.
Phase one contains around 9 acres, which includes three lots, a stormwater facility and public road areas, according to a city memo. Council approved the preliminary plat in March 2023 and the development has since met all necessary conditions of approval and infrastructure has been installed and accepted or bonded for, according to city staff.
COUNCIL IS also expected to vote on authorizing a grant application that would connect the resident-owned neighborhood Morning Star Community with the city's wastewater system.
The community has been using private septic systems installed in 1973 and are nearing the end of their useful lifetimes, according to a city memo.
NeighborWorks Montana, on behalf of Morning Star, is requesting permission from Council to apply for a $100,000 state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation grant that would fund building the needed infrastructure to tap into the city sewer.
"If awarded, these funds will significantly reduce the financial burden on residents by assisting with the replacement of aging water and sewer systems," read a letter to Council from Daniel Maiden, the cooperative housing director for Neighborworks Montana.
COUNCIL IS also expected to vote on adopting a hazard mitigation plan developed by Montana Disaster and Emergency Services.
The 2024 Western Montana Region Hazard Mitigation Plan is meant "to identify and reduce long-term risks from disasters or natural events" across Montana, according to city officials. The Flathead County portion of the plan began being developed in 2022 and was approved by the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency earlier this year/
Council will also vote on a request by Renaissance Senior Care to expand its assisted living facility.
The senior care facility that sits off Liberty Street needs a conditional use permit to expand from 13 to 15 beds.
The expansion was recommended to Council by the Planning Commission in March.
Immanuel Living is requesting that the city authorize the issuance of a conduit bond package of up to $100 million to refinance existing debt for which the city issued a conduit bond and borrow additional funds for further capital improvements, according to a city memo.
Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and [e-mail].