Board approves Kalispell 4-plex project

The Kalispell Planning Board met for a shortened meeting Jan. 10 after hearings on two large developments were postponed until next month’s meeting.

The lone proposal that was approved was for a conditional-use permit to construct two four-plex buildings at 25 Appleway Drive, south of U.S. 2 near the portion that holds both the Hampton Inn and the Quality Inn.

The buildings will be two stories and each have an 1,800-square-foot imprint, according to the staff report. There will also be an accompanying parking lot.

The property is in a B-2 zoning district, which includes multi-family housing in its list of acceptable uses so long as the conditional-use permit is obtained.

A proposal for a major subdivision was set to be considered by the Planning Board Tuesday, but was withdrawn by the applicant at the last minute so they could gather more information and bring it back for consideration next month.

Team Development LLC is proposing to separate 9.6 acres at 2100 Airport Road into 30 residential lots and three utility lots for storm water. The lots will include four single-family lots and 26 townhouse lots for a total of 56 housing units.

The lot was recently annexed into the city and is within R-4 and RA-1 zoning districts, both of which permit townhouses. The project would change 1.8 acres of the current lot to roads and streets, and 0.4 acres would be preserved as common space.

The project is expected to be on the agenda again at the February meeting.

The final agenda item was old business, a proposal for the annexation of a 15-acre parcel and the construction of a 324-unit apartment complex located on Two Mile Drive. The December meeting included a public hearing on the proposal, and dozens of people came to speak out against the project.

Planning Board members decided they wanted more information from the developer before holding a vote, including traffic and stormwater impact data that would normally be provided later in the permitting process. Many area residents also expressed concern that the large buildings would obscure their view in a neighborhood of otherwise mostly single-family residences.

Planning staff said Tuesday that much of that data had been gathered, but staff and the board members had not had enough time to evaluate and decide if it was sufficient. The board meets again on February 13 in the city council chambers at City Hall.

Reporter Peregrine Frissell can be reached at (406) 758-4438 or pfrissell@dailyinterlake.com.