Latest news with #MontanaLandUsePlanningAct
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell planners warn of impending parking crunch
May 15—Kalispell officials are warning that on-street parking is in jeopardy thanks to a bill awaiting the governor's signature that limits off-street parking requirements on new construction. The piece of legislation, House Bill 492, came up during the Kalispell Planning Commission's Tuesday meeting as members mulled over the preliminary draft land use plan required by the Montana Land Use Planning Act. The act, which was signed into law in 2023, requires 10 Montana cities — including Kalispell — to draft a new land use plan that emphasizes boosting housing supply. The city is required to adopt at least five of 14 potential zoning ordinances meant to stoke development, like reducing setback areas and lot size, or allowing apartments on single-family lots. Residents can peruse and vote on each regulation on the dedicated city webpage ( But an ordinance outlined in the act that limits parking regulations may become law regardless. House Bill 492, sponsored by Rep. Katie Zolnikov, R-Billings, was introduced in February and would limit city parking requirements to one space per dwelling unit in new construction. It would also eliminate any parking requirements for child care, deed-restricted housing, assisted living or residential units under 1,200 square feet. While developers have in the past built more parking than required, Development Services Director Jarod Nygren said he sees a potential for opportunistic developers to buy up infill and not allocate any parking, which would push cars out onto the city streets. If that becomes reality, Nygren said the city would eventually need to look at outlawing on-street parking, particularly if it begins affecting the city's ability to provide services like plowing or responding to emergencies. City officials expressed confusion as to why the bill was passed in a state with limited public transit. "It seems like another [law] that was borrowed from a city where you can walk out of your apartment, jump on the train or walk to work," said Planning Commission Vice President Rory Young. Kalispell city officials were not keen on some of the other zoning regulations the state Legislature wants cities to adopt under the Montana Land Use Planning Act. Nygren criticized the law for prompting a "balancing act" of guiding new, diverse, development without remolding historic single-family neighborhoods and stripping away aesthetic amenities. "We shouldn't be building housing just for the sake of housing, it should still be quality," Nygren said. A potential ordinance allowing for three- and four-unit apartments wherever a single-family residence is allowed drew criticism for threatening the character of old neighborhoods. "This takes an eastside, historic, single-family home and says you can tear down and build a fourplex," Nygren said. But the process is time consuming and expensive for any developer, and he predicted it would not result in attainable housing. Planning Commission President Chad Graham was also an adamant no to the potential ordinance. Homeowner associations are exempt from adhering to some of the ordinances, which Graham worried would disproportionally affect historic neighborhoods while letting newer subdivisions off the hook. The ordinance to reduce setback areas by 25% was also looked down upon by city officials and the public, according to community feedback. Assistant Development Services Director PJ Sorensen said the regulation may impede space needed for utilities, buffers and other infrastructure. Planning Commission member Pip Burke argued that people still need access around the outside of their house. Nygren said that the setback ordinance, among others, disregard institutional knowledge around fire safety, noise and light for the sake of increasing housing density. Many of the ordinances, though, the city already implements in some form, Sorensen said. For instance, the city encourages denser development around community hubs like business centers and named "transit corridors." Kalispell also allows multi-family housing in commercial zones through a permit process. THE COMMISSION also appeared in favor of a developer's proposal to expand a subdivision in south Kalispell. Colton Behr, developer of the Anderson Ranch subdivision that was OK'd by Council in September 2024, is looking to annex 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, resides on a 100-year flood zone and is intended only for parkland 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. The subdivision shares a planned unit development with Todd Gardner, who owns property directly west that will see an Amazon distribution warehouse go up in the future. A public hearing on the extension is scheduled for June 10. Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 or junderhill@
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell planners warn of impending parking crunch
May 15—Kalispell officials are warning that on-street parking is in jeopardy thanks to a bill awaiting the governor's signature that limits off-street parking requirements on new construction. The piece of legislation, House Bill 492, came up during the Kalispell Planning Commission's Tuesday meeting as members mulled over the preliminary draft land use plan required by the Montana Land Use Planning Act. The act, which was signed into law in 2023, requires 10 Montana cities — including Kalispell — to draft a new land use plan that emphasizes boosting housing supply. The city is required to adopt at least five of 14 potential zoning ordinances meant to stoke development, like reducing setback areas and lot size, or allowing apartments on single-family lots. Residents can peruse and vote on each regulation on the dedicated city webpage ( But an ordinance outlined in the act that limits parking regulations may become law regardless. House Bill 492, sponsored by Rep. Katie Zolnikov, R-Billings, was introduced in February and would limit city parking requirements to one space per dwelling unit in new construction. It would also eliminate any parking requirements for child care, deed-restricted housing, assisted living or residential units under 1,200 square feet. While developers have in the past built more parking than required, Development Services Director Jarod Nygren said he sees a potential for opportunistic developers to buy up infill and not allocate any parking, which would push cars out onto the city streets. If that becomes reality, Nygren said the city would eventually need to look at outlawing on-street parking, particularly if it begins affecting the city's ability to provide services like plowing or responding to emergencies. City officials expressed confusion as to why the bill was passed in a state with limited public transit. "It seems like another [law] that was borrowed from a city where you can walk out of your apartment, jump on the train or walk to work," said Planning Commission Vice President Rory Young. Kalispell city officials were not keen on some of the other zoning regulations the state Legislature wants cities to adopt under the Montana Land Use Planning Act. Nygren criticized the law for prompting a "balancing act" of guiding new, diverse, development without remolding historic single-family neighborhoods and stripping away aesthetic amenities. "We shouldn't be building housing just for the sake of housing, it should still be quality," Nygren said. A potential ordinance allowing for three- and four-unit apartments wherever a single-family residence is allowed drew criticism for threatening the character of old neighborhoods. "This takes an eastside, historic, single-family home and says you can tear down and build a fourplex," Nygren said. But the process is time consuming and expensive for any developer, and he predicted it would not result in attainable housing. Planning Commission President Chad Graham was also an adamant no to the potential ordinance. Homeowner associations are exempt from adhering to some of the ordinances, which Graham worried would disproportionally affect historic neighborhoods while letting newer subdivisions off the hook. The ordinance to reduce setback areas by 25% was also looked down upon by city officials and the public, according to community feedback. Assistant Development Services Director PJ Sorensen said the regulation may impede space needed for utilities, buffers and other infrastructure. Planning Commission member Pip Burke argued that people still need access around the outside of their house. Nygren said that the setback ordinance, among others, disregard institutional knowledge around fire safety, noise and light for the sake of increasing housing density. Many of the ordinances, though, the city already implements in some form, Sorensen said. For instance, the city encourages denser development around community hubs like business centers and named "transit corridors." Kalispell also allows multi-family housing in commercial zones through a permit process. THE COMMISSION also appeared in favor of a developer's proposal to expand a subdivision in south Kalispell. Colton Behr, developer of the Anderson Ranch subdivision that was OK'd by Council in September 2024, is looking to annex 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, resides on a 100-year flood zone and is intended only for parkland 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. The subdivision shares a planned unit development with Todd Gardner, who owns property directly west that will see an Amazon distribution warehouse go up in the future. A public hearing on the extension is scheduled for June 10. Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 or junderhill@
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
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Planning Commission concerned with public engagement on new land use plan
Apr. 10—Kalispell Planning Commission members are worried about a lack of public involvement in drafting the city's new land use plan. During the commission's April 8 meeting, City Planner Donnie McBath updated members on efforts to garner public feedback on how the city can best promote attainable housing. But some board members said they were concerned that much of the community is still unaware of the implications behind Senate Bill 382, which was signed into law in May 2023 by Gov. Greg Gianforte as part of his effort to streamline construction amid a statewide housing crunch. Also known as the Montana Land Use Planning Act, the law required 10 Montana cities, including Kalispell, to draft a new land use plan, influenced largely through community engagement. The law has drawn criticism from city officials for limiting public input on site-specific developments. By frontloading public input to drafting the plan, the law intends to ditch public hearings in front of City Council on site-specific construction. Annexations and zoning changes will still go through a public process, said Assistant Development Services Director PJ Sorensen, "the big difference basically really is subdivisions and [conditional use permits.] "But that's where the public cares," commission member Shelby Odell responded. "We are going to have a lot of pissed off people here." "Bingo," added commission member Joshua Borgardt. The provision to limit public input on site specific projects was ruled unconstitutional by a district court judge in Bozeman earlier this year. That decision has left city planners with unanswered questions on how site-specific projects will be approached. Colorado-based engineering firm Logan Simpson was hired by the city in December to spearhead its public engagement campaign, which kicked off in March and featured two open houses and four drop-in sessions. Displayed at the events and on the city's dedicated webpage ( residents can 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 the 14 regulations. McBath said that so far, the in-person events garnered around 60 responses, and the website brought around 110. From that feedback, the community identified Kalispell's main challenges as vacation rentals, lack of school funding, a high cost of living, a need for pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and speedy development resulting in unappealing sprawl. Of the state-proposed zoning regulations, the community favored allowing apartments as a permitted use in office and commercial zones, higher density housing near public transit, colleges or places of employment, and having tiny houses defined in the building code. Residents also favored allowing second homes on any property where a single-family residence is allowed and increasing building heights by at least 25%, according to public feedback. While board members were appreciative of the effort by Logan Simpson and city planners to engage the public on the forthcoming plan, they worried that the community will still be angry and confused when developments go up outside their doorstep without notice. "Is anybody going to act surprised in like 2026 or whatever when this stuff starts happening," said Chad Graham, commission chair. "I just don't think this is stuff that the general public consumes." "I want the public out there to understand how important this is," Graham said. Sorensen told the commission that he believes the state Legislature is looking to introduce a form of public notice. More public engagement events are scheduled this summer along with a public hearing for the final draft anticipated for August. THE COMMISSION also OK'd the construction of a new Montana Department of Transportation multi-use building in North Kalispell, sending the project to City Council for review. 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 N., which is currently being used as a maintenance yard. The new building would be used to store equipment and would 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, which will be relocated to the new building. The Kalispell Ford dealership and firearms manufacturer Falkor Defense sit across the street from the property, and the new Stillwater Bend subdivision is located nearby. A condition in the permit was amended by the commission to leave it up to the developer whether to fence just the southern half of the property, which will remain sand and salt storage, or to put up a chain link fence around the entire building as well. The conditional use permit would also require the building of a road connection from Rose Crossing north to Quail Lane. Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@
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@
