Kalispell council considers urban renewal hearing

Nearly one year ago, on Dec. 4, Kalispell City Council adopted “The Downtown Plan,” intended to help guide downtown Kalispell’s future growth and development.

Now, council is poised to adopt a companion Downtown Kalispell Urban Renewal Plan that could, among other things, allow for creation of a tax increment finance district downtown. A TIF could help pay for infrastructure projects that might include, among others: a parking garage and wider sidewalks.

Council has tentatively scheduled a public hearing on the urban renewal plan for its Nov. 19 meeting. Council members will vote during their meeting tonight whether to move forward with that date for the public hearing.

Tax increment finance districts allow municipalities to capture additional taxes as a district increases in value. Property owners in the district do not shoulder related hikes in property taxes. TIFs hinge on blight that is said to limit new development in the district.

In other action tonight, council will consider amending the City Airport Master Plan to increase project funds by up to $54,254 to both cover the costs of capital improvements at the airport that exceeded earlier estimates and add some improvements. The city’s contribution would come from the South Kalispell Tax Increment District.

Council meets tonight at 7 p.m. at Kalispell City Hall, 201 First Ave. E..

City offices will be closed Tuesday for election day and again on Nov. 12 for Veterans Day.

Reporter Duncan Adams may be reached at dadams@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4407.