Core Area zoning plan approved by council

The Kalispell City Council unanimously approved the first reading of the Core Area B-3 zoning plan in a meeting Monday night at City Hall.

The project will create a Business Core Area that will affect 45 property ownerships, raising property value and encouraging development and redevelopment of the area.

The new zone will encompass an area bounded on the north by the center line of U.S. 2 (Idaho Street), on the west by the center line of Fifth Avenue West North, on the south by the center line of West Center Street and on the east by the center line of U.S. 93 (Main Street).

Throughout meetings with property owners, board members and other officials, no opposition to the zone has surfaced.

IN OTHER business, the council approved the terms for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the city and Kalispell Police Association. The agreement will adjust a salary and compensation increase for Kalispell police over the next three years and clean up the language in the agreement.

The fiscal impact for the agreement on the city is $69,000 in 2018, $55,000 in 2019 and $70,000 in 2020.

Council also approved a one-year extension to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the city and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees until the fiscal year of 2018.

A three-year plan will go into development for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 term.

For more information on council meetings and agendas, visit http://www.kalispell.com/mayor_and_city_council/.

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.