Council ponders transportation plan update
The Kalispell City Council tonight will focus on how to proceed with a long-overdue update of the city’s transportation plan.
The Greater Kalispell Area Transportation Plan has not been updated since the early 2000s, despite the city’s heavy increases in population and traffic in recent years. The city of Kalispell, Montana Department of Transportation and the Kalispell Transportation Coordinating Committee are collaborating to update the plan, with the projected goal of a final plan in May 2021.
The city has considered two proposals for professional services to conduct the update. City officials have determined KLJ Engineering’s proposal to be the most cost-effective for the city. At the meeting, the council will consider a motion to select KLJ Engineering as the professional consultant for the transportation plan update.
At this stage, there is no available estimate for the cost of updating the transportation plan. KLJ proposed performing a baseline revenue analysis to assess “existing programs and funding levels.” At a later stage, they also suggested completing a “constraint analysis…that makes a final estimate of available funding.” They expect to conduct this analysis midway through the planning process.
According to the agenda, 40% of the cost of the update will be provided by the city and 60% will be funded by the Montana Department of Transportation. The Special Street Maintenance budget for fiscal year 2020 has allocated $150,000 to update the plan.
A key feature of the updated plan will be the development of goals, objectives and performance measures for issues including safety, mobility, congestion and pavement conditions.
As they work toward the May 2021 final plan projected date, there will be various opportunities for public engagement and public input sessions.
The council also will consider a recommendation to approve a request from Woodland Apartments, LLC for a conditional-use permit for a nine-unit multi-family housing development with 13 conditions based on previous discussions of the housing project.
Woodland Apartments, LLC has proposed building a two-story, 30-foot-tall apartment building with nine units, parking and landscaping at 23 Woodland Park Drive.
The Kalispell Planning Board met on July 9 to discuss the proposed development. Based on public comment and social media comments expressing concerns about with traffic, safety and the garbage enclosure, the board adopted 13 conditions for the permit’s approval.
Another recommendation that will be considered at the meeting is final plat request for Glacier Rail Park. KLJ requested the approval of the four-lot rail-served industrial subdivision’s final plat on behalf of the Flathead County Economic Development Authority. The preliminary plat was approved by the council on June 18, 2018. They now report that all 22 conditions “have been met or adequately addressed” and recommend the approval of the park’s final plat.
The council will consider a proposal for a public hearing on the Wastewater Facility Plan Update. The city has been updating Kalispell’s wastewater facility plans, which date back to 2008, for the past year. The 2019 Wastewater Facility Plan is the last portion of the plan that is yet to be updated. This plan focuses on the collection and conveyance aspects of the city’s sewer system.
The council will vote to hold a public hearing about the facility plan on Sept. 3.
The final council action item is the appointment of Joseph Alexander to the Kalispell Tourism Business Improvement District Board of Directors. The new general manager of the Red Lion Hotel has been proposed to fill a recent vacancy on the Board.
The council recommends the mayor appoint Alexander as a large hotel representative with a term through April 30, 2022.
The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 201 First Ave. E.
Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at bserbin@dailyinterlake.com or 758-4459.