Kalispell Council declines small subdivision on College Avenue

Kalispell City Council on Monday declined an application for a zone change and subdivision of a 1.01-acre piece of property at 435 College Ave.

Applicant Jeremy Peterson requested to change the zoning on the property from R-3 residential to RA-1, a residential apartment designation. He then wanted to subdivide the property into four lots for construction of two-family housing on each lot for eight units in total.

If the zoning change was not approved, Peterson was still interested in subdividing the property into four separate parcels for single-family homes. The council did not pass either motion.

The proposal drew vocal complaints from several people who lived in the neighborhood who were mostly concerned about increased traffic on what they called a dangerous road.

The road in question, Sylvan Drive, contains a curve that area residents said is very sharp. They said it was dangerous when roads were icy and had poor visibility.

The project would have caused additional access points to enter the road near the curve, and the neighbors who spoke felt that would have been a detriment to longtime homeowners.

They also worried that the project could lead to the development of other nearby properties. They said the wooded area to the south and west of the property is home to wildlife and comprises the main appeal for many of the area’s residents.

“Before you make your final decision, I ask you to consider what’s next,” said Mark Norley, who lives on Sylvan Court.

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