Latest news with #JackUnderhill
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State looks to build new transportation facility in North Kalispell
Apr. 8—The Montana Department of Transportation is looking to build a new 28,000 square foot multi-use facility in north Kalispell. The Kalispell Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposal on Tuesday, April 8 at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E. The state agency is requesting annexation of the 9-acre plot of land into the city, initial zoning of P-1 (public) and a conditional use permit to allow for the facility located at 2905 U.S. 93 North, which is currently being used as a maintenance yard. The new building would be used to store equipment storage and be fitted with mechanics and welding shops under one roof, according to the project proposal. The state Department of Transportation has a welding and mechanics shop on Fifth Avenue East North but will be relocated to the new building. "The property is located in a generally commercial area which transitions into multi-family to the east and single-family to the north, along with undeveloped lots slated for multi-family and office use," read the proposal. The Kalispell Ford dealership and the firearms manufacturing company, Falkor Defense sit across the street from the property along with the new Stillwater Bend subdivision nearby. The proposed project is in compliance with the municipal growth policy, according to the development proposal. The conditional use permit would also require the construction of a road connection from Rose Crossing north to Quail Lane. "Without annexation, the road connection is unlikely to be available," read the proposal. THE PLANNING commission will also hold its sixth meeting regarding the city's new land use plan. The commission must craft a new and improved land use plan after Gov. Greg Gianforte signed Senate Bill 382, also known as the Montana Land Use Planning Act, into law in May 2023 in hopes of easing the statewide housing crunch. Tuesday's meeting will entail discussion on portions of the preliminary draft, according to the meeting agenda. A provision of the act that has drawn criticism from city officials is how it limits public input on site-specific developments. By frontloading public input to creating the land use plan, the act would ditch public hearings in from of City Council on site — specific construction. However, the provision was ruled unconstitutional by a district court judge in Bozeman in March, leaving city planners with unanswered questions on how site-specific developments will be approached. The community may provide their thoughts on the city's public engagement website at Users can post their thoughts on challenges facing Kalispell, tag areas on a map whether the city needs revamping, sign up for project updates and learn more about the legislation. The new plan must be adopted by May 2026. Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell City Council to look at replacing wells contaminated with PFAS
Jan. 27—Kalispell City Council on Monday will consider proposals to replace two municipal wells in an attempt to rid the public water supply of forever chemicals. Council meets 7 p.m., Han. 27 in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E. Councilors are expected to look over a preliminary engineering report proposing several projects that would replace the Armory and Grandview wells, which have consistently shown detections of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS. The report was prepared by Kalispell and the civil engineering firm Robert Peccia and Associates. Forever chemicals were first detected in the public water supply in 2022, and the move to decontaminate the drinking water comes after the Environmental Protection Agency rolled out federal regulations on six types of commonly found forever chemicals in April. A PFOS limit was established at four parts per trillion, and PFHxS, another forever chemical found in the Grandview and Armory wells, was set at 10 parts per trillion. Replacing the wells is the second phase of the city's plan to eliminate PFAS in its water supply. The first phase was completed in October when treatment systems were installed at the Grandview Wells site near Flathead Valley Community College. Kalispell first detected PFAS at the site in July 2023. Before the system was installed, the well tested above the actionable limit set by the EPA. According to October sampling results, the equipment is effectively eliminating PFAS from drinking water. The system, which is being rented from Illinois-based water quality treatment service WaterSurplus, is considered only a temporary solution. The Armory Well, which sits next to a former armory and is near the Kalispell airport, first detected PFAS in 2022 and has continued to detect the chemicals, although under the actionable limit. Kalispell's public water system is divided into an upper and lower pressure zone. The Grandview Wells site helps supply the upper zone, north of Lawrence Park, and the Armory Well helps supply downtown and South Kalispell, the lower zone. The report found that without the Grandview Wells site, another water source is needed to keep up with growing demand. While demand in the lower pressure zone has not been growing as rapidly, an additional source would be needed to replace the Armory Well. The report presents several possible locations and various well types to replace each public water source but highlights two plans for each pressure zone. Out of several options, the report proposes drilling wells by an existing emergency well on the Buffalo Hill Golf Course. The cost to drill and build needed infrastructure is estimated at $10 million. It would replace the Grandview wells. To replace the Armory Well, the report suggests drilling two new wells by Dry Bridge Park along Woodland Avenue. The projected cost for constructing the wells and infrastructure is estimated at $7.95 million. Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@
