Public input sought on city needs, industrial park

From plans for a revamped industrial park to affordable housing, the city of Columbia Falls is looking for input from citizens during two public hearings next week.

The first hearing concerns the city's plans for a Targeted Economic Development District for the industrial park north of Railroad Street. Both hearings will be Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at city hall.

A TEDD, as it's called, is an economic development plan for the park, which also sets up a tax increment financing district as well. The plan allows for loans and possibly grants for businesses looking to expand into the park. SmartLam, cross-laminated timber manufacturer, is expected to be an anchor tenant at the Park.

If its plans come to fruition, it would be the largest cross-laminated timber plant in the world, quadrupling its current output from the company's smaller plant located behind Super 1 Foods in Columbia Falls.

But the park needs infrastructure to support a business like SmartLam, namely a sewer line and high-speed internet access. The TEDD creates a framework to provide and finance those services, as well as other amenities, like buffer zones between the park and neighboring homes.

A second public hearing will ask citizens what they feel the city's community needs are. City leaders are particularly interested in the needs of low and moderate income residents, as it can help the city qualify for community development block grants and other funding.

Columbia Falls is on the cusp of a commercial real estate revival, with plans for a new hotel and several other restaurants and stores either in the planning stage or in construction.