Obstacles arise for future Kalispell rail park

The Kalispell Planning Board addressed several unanticipated regulation obstacles Tuesday night for the upcoming construction of the future industrial rail park off Whitefish Stage Road.

The 40-acre Glacier Rail Park will accommodate rail-reliant businesses in Kalispell once the tracks through the downtown area are abandoned and removed.

Potential limitations for the park included the timing of building permit issuance, the ability to gate the private road, a list of permitted uses on the property, allowable fence height, wayfinding signs, paving standards, landscaping standards and standards for private roads servicing subdivisions.

City staff argued that, while the zoning of the industrial park would normally call for certain provisions such as sidewalks, landscaping and other amenities, the use of the park nullifies the need for requirements imposed on residential neighborhoods.

The board unanimously supported the planned-unit development for the site with two conditions and multiple amendments. City Council will vote on final approval.

The amendments adjust building requirements normally set forth for construction within this type of zoning to more appropriately reflect the purpose of the industrial park rather than a large private residential area.

Amendment A allows for the issuance of a building permit prior to the final plat so that CENEX can start construction onsite while the necessary steps for the federal grant process are proceeding.

Amendments B and C allow for the gating of the private interior access road and dispose of requirements such as sidewalks and public right-of-ways normally mandatory for private residential areas in order to discourage through traffic and public use of the industrial park.

Amendment D allows for multi-permitted uses of the property with the exception of telecommunication towers to provide for various businesses to build and operate within the park.

Rather than the standard 4-foot fence height limit, Amendment E permits up to 8-foot fencing as long as there is no barbed wire within the front setback.

Amendment F allows for master wayfinding signage to direct industrial traffic, creating a property that operates like a private business park.

Instead of forcing the builders to pave the entire site, Amendment G will limit paving to customer and employee parking, driveways and entrances, allowing for gravel on the rest of the property.

Due to the intended use of the park as a private, industrial work site, Amendment H eliminates the requirement for landscaping.

Traffic will be diverted around the property to the north, with all but a small portion of Montclair Drive leading to surrounding residential areas closed off for internal access to the site. East Oregon Street to the east and south of the property will remain open to the public but will also be used for site truck traffic going to and from the site.

Road surrounding the site will be improved for public and private use.

The bid for construction of the park will be awarded in Monday’s city council meeting.

For more information on planning board meetings and agendas, visit http://kalispell.com/planning/Agenda.php.

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