Planning board OKs zone change for industrial park

The Columbia Falls City-County Planning Board Tuesday approved a zone change for an industrial park on the north end of Columbia Falls that could pave the way for an expansion of SmartLam to the site.

In a 6-2 vote, the board approved changing the current zoning on 26 acres from light industrial to heavy industrial. The vote did not come without considerable debate over 2 ½ hours. Several neighbors spoke against the measure. They weren’t necessarily opposed to SmartLam, which makes high-strength wood panels used as pads in oil fields and building construction, they were worried about what other businesses might come in and the noise, dust and other problems that might come with it.

The heavy industrial zone change was necessary, said city planner Eric Mulcahy, so the company could work outside its building if necessary. He didn’t anticipate any large, dirty, businesses occupying the site, which is being developed by the BID Group Properties, of Vanderhoof, British Columbia, Canada.

The meeting was really a debate over the future of the city, which is touting itself as the gateway to Glacier National Park, while still supporting industrial businesses.

“What happens 10, 20, years down the road?” said neighbor Melissa Sladek. “Is this really what we want?”

Planning board member Lee Schlesinger made similar points, arguing that creating a city as a gateway to Glacier isn’t compatible with heavy industrial use.

“As a general rule we shouldn’t be voting for more heavy industrial,” he said.

But other board members and Mulcahy noted the site has always been industrial and the change made sense. BID bought 110 acres and about 30 are already zoned heavy industrial. That includes a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway main line and a bark plant that, in the past, has been a significant nuisance to neighbors.

SmartLam president and general manager Casey Malmquist attended the meeting and said the company could relocate there with the current zoning, but it made more sense to change the zoning to make the site layout more compatible with the building and road design.

“We’re trying to do this right,” Malmquist said. He noted the company has had offers to relocate, but it wants to be in Columbia Falls. It already has a plant in the city behind Super 1 Foods. He said it’s a clean industry.

“We deal with wood and non-toxic kitchen-grade glue,” he said.

But Schlesinger and board member Courtney Nolan ultimately voted against the zone change.

The full city council will take up the zone change request — and the debate — at its meeting on Monday evening at 7 p.m. The council’s decision will determine the zone change request.

This was the first time in recent history that the planning board had dissent in a vote, noted chairman Russ Vukonich.

“It’s actually refreshing,” he said. “We’re not a rubber stamp.”