Latest news with #McBath
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell Planning Commission to weigh new housing rules
May 13—The Kalispell Planning Commission on Tuesday is expected to weigh regulations streamlining residential development as part of the city's preliminary draft land use plan. The Montana Land Use Planning Act, signed by Gov. Greg Gianforte in 2023, required 10 Montana cities, including Kalispell, to draft a new plan that places a particular focus on housing and is influenced largely through community engagement. The commission convenes on May 13 at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E. A dedicated city webpage ( allows residents to pick and choose from 14 zoning regulations identified in the act that they believe would most effectively promote attainable housing in Kalispell. The city is required to adopt a minimum of five out of 14 regulations. Potential ordinances include allowing apartments as permitted use in office and commercial zones, higher density housing near community hubs like colleges or public transit, and having tiny houses defined in building code. The housing section of the draft plan is aimed at increasing access to attainable housing for all income levels, according to a memo from city planner Donnie McBath. The plan supports compact and connected neighborhoods through infill development, redevelopment of underused sites and higher-density housing near services and transportation corridors. Recent development has eased the housing market, but affordability, limited vacancy and an imbalance in the geographic distribution of housing types remain key issues, according to McBath. While the rental vacancy rate sits at a tight 1.1%, close to 30% of Kalispell's total land area remains vacant, amounting to around 2,500 acres. Nearly all of that land has zoning designations that support housing. "This available land base presents a significant opportunity for accommodating future residential, commercial and public facility needs," wrote Development Services Director Jarod Nygren in a memo. Kalispell's population is expected to grow by around 19,000 residents by 2045, prompting the need for between 8,800 and 10,000 new housing units, according to McBath. Between 2021 and 2025, City Hall approved roughly 7,500 new residential units, which was a significant step toward meeting that growth, according to Nygren. The city is currently home to an estimated 15,847 dwellings, which consists of 60% single-family homes, 30% multifamily units and 10% manufactured or mobile homes, according to the memo. The Montana Land Use Planning Act has drawn criticism from city officials for limiting public input on site-specific developments and instead frontloads public involvement in developing a plan. The law ends public hearings in front of Council on site-specific construction, which includes subdivisions. That provision was ruled unconstitutional by a district court judge in Bozeman earlier this year, though, leaving city planners with unanswered questions on how site-specific projects should be approached. THE COMMISSION also will hear a proposal from the developer of a subdivision south of Kalispell looking to expand its neighborhood. Colton Behr, developer of the Anderson Ranch subdivision that was OK'd by Council in September 2024, is looking to add 12 acres to the 31-acre property that resides on the west side of Demersville Road and just south of Lower Valley Road. The extension, which is at the south end of the property, is meant to get the development in line with the city's growth policy, which designates four housing units per acre. The bulk of the new property is within a 100-year flood zone but will only be used for parkland, open space and stormwater detention, according to the development proposal. The entire subdivision stakes out 166 lots for single-family detached dwellings. The homes will be 1,600 square feet or less on 4,500-square-foot lots, "which equates to small homes on small lots that can provide more attainable housing options for residents of Kalispell," according to the subdivision proposal. Neighboring units will share a driveway to preserve area for on-street parking. The neighborhood is expected to bring roughly 56 students to the K-12 school system at full buildout and will generate about 1,600 daily vehicle trips, according to a traffic study done last fall. The PUD proposes 13.31 acres of parkland along the south side of the property. The subdivision shares a planned unit development with Todd Gardner, who owns property directly west. The combined planned unit development amounts to 95-acres zoned for residential, industrial and commercial uses. An Amazon distribution warehouse is being built on the Gardner-owned property. The one-story building is set to be about 28,000 square feet and located on United Drive near Fred's Applicance. The property will also see some road work, including an east/west road connecting U.S. 93 with Demersville Road, which may be fitted with a traffic signal. Another traffic signal will also be built on the portion of road meeting Demersville Road and Bar H Drive. Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 or junderhill@
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Federal budget cuts could mean the end of Head Start program for thousands of young Georgians
Local elected leaders fear that federal budget cuts could mean the end, or significant cuts, for the Head Start program. More than 3,000 children across metro Atlanta rely on the program through the YMCA. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Justice Buchanan told Channel 2's Steve Gehlbach that Head Start has made major differences in her 4-year-old daughter's life. 'She's changed so much,' Buchanan said. But she's worried that it may not still be there when it's time for her 2-year-old son to start participating. "Head Start is a huge, huge impact on these kids, the parents and well, and the teachers,' she said. The YMCA of Metro Atlanta has 3,000 kids in the Head Start program at 10 centers, making them the largest provider in the state. The program provides services for everyone from working families to the homeless to children with mental health needs and those in foster care. It's funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. TRENDING STORIES: LIVE UPDATES: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings issued across metro Atlanta, north GA At least 4 injured after manufacturing facility roof collapses in Forsyth County Rats taking over woman's Gwinnett apartment as city cracks down on complex Congresswoman Lucy McBath toured the Chattahoochee Early Learning Center on Friday after seeing a proposal that would eliminate the program. 'We are fighting back in Congress with every legislative tool that's afforded us, but what I want our families to know is they're not powerless. They have more power than they realize, and that is their voice,' McBath said. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not commented on the budget proposal, but Democrats like McBath are vowing to fight any cuts. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
McBath halts Georgia gubernatorial exploratory bid, citing husband's health
Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) is pausing her exploratory bid for Georgia governor, citing her husband's ongoing cancer battle. 'I'm so grateful for everyone who has stood by my family as we undergo this arduous period,' McBath said in a statement, according to The Associated Press. 'I will be spending some time focusing on my husband's health, and I cannot make a decision to run for governor or not at this moment.' McBath told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that it was a 'really difficult decision to make.' 'And right now I can't make the decision on whether or not to run for governor,' McBath added. 'I've always said my priorities should be where I'm supposed to be. And that's helping my husband.' McBath told the Journal-Constitution that her husband, Curtis McBath, suffered complications from recent cancer surgery. 'His road to ultimate health is going to be a little longer and more difficult than we thought,' she said. 'Right now, I have to organically look at everything and make sure I'm where I'm most needed.' McBath's campaign didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment but her spokesperson, Jake Orvis, told the AP that she might still run for governor in 2026. McBath does not plan to step down from Congress, where she's serving her fourth term. McBath has been a vocal advocate for gun laws after her 17-year-old son, Jordan Davis, was murdered outside a Florida gas station in 2012 during a disagreement over loud music. His killer, Michael David Dunn, who was 45 at the time, was convicted and sentenced to life behind bars for the deadly shooting. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) cannot seek reelection because of term limits. Republican Attorney General Chris Carr launched his campaign for governor in November, and other Georgia Republicans, including Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, have expressed interest. Democrats reportedly mulling a run include Stacey Abrams, who lost to Kemp in 2018 and 2022; former Atlanta Mayor Kesha Lance Bottoms; and former state Sen. Jason Carter, the grandson of former President Carter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
McBath pauses 2026 bid for Georgia governor
Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath is suspending her run for Georgia governor, saying on Monday that she'll be focusing on her husband's health amid a recent cancer diagnosis. The four-term Democratic lawmaker did not completely rule out a 2026 gubernatorial bid and said she will continue serving in Congress. 'I'm so thankful for the support our family has received as we undergo this difficult process,' Rep. Lucy McBath said in a statement to POLITICO. 'I will be spending this next period focusing on my husband's health and recovery. I cannot make the decision to run for Governor or not at this time.' The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was first to report McBath was halting her campaign. She had drawn speculation about a possible gubernatorial campaign after launching an exploratory committee earlier this month. McBath had long been floated as a strong Democratic contender for Georgia's top job, as Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited next year. If elected, McBath would be the country's first Black woman governor and would also be the state's first Democratic governor in over two decades. Her decision leaves uncertainty over who will emerge as the party's front-runner. Other Democrats who have hinted at potential gubernatorial bids include former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves and former DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Michael Thurmond. Meanwhile, former Democratic state Rep. Stacey Abrams — who ran and lost to Kemp in 2018 and 2022 — has not ruled out running a third time. On the GOP side, Attorney General Chris Carr has already entered the race.
Politico
31-03-2025
- Health
- Politico
McBath pauses 2026 bid for Georgia governor
Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath is suspending her run for Georgia governor, saying on Monday that she'll be focusing on her husband's health amid a recent cancer diagnosis. The four-term Democratic lawmaker did not completely rule out a 2026 gubernatorial bid and said she will continue serving in Congress. 'I'm so thankful for the support our family has received as we undergo this difficult process,' Rep. Lucy McBath said in a statement to POLITICO. 'I will be spending this next period focusing on my husband's health and recovery. I cannot make the decision to run for Governor or not at this time.' The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was first to report McBath was halting her campaign. She had drawn speculation about a possible gubernatorial campaign after launching an exploratory committee earlier this month. McBath had long been floated as a strong Democratic contender for Georgia's top job, as Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is term-limited next year. If elected, McBath would be the country's first Black woman governor and would also be the state's first Democratic governor in over two decades. Her decision leaves uncertainty over who will emerge as the party's front-runner. Other Democrats who have hinted at potential gubernatorial bids include former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, state Sen. Jason Esteves and former DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Michael Thurmond. Meanwhile, former Democratic state Rep. Stacey Abrams — who ran and lost to Kemp in 2018 and 2022 — has not ruled out running a third time. On the GOP side, Attorney General Chris Carr has already entered the race.
