Opportunities to Speak Up & Help Shape How the Flathead Grows--4-19-2016


Hello? Please find a better solution. That's what we are asking the Flathead County Commissioners to do. Tomorrow morning, April 20th at 9:30am the Commissioners will hold a public hearing, at the County Court House at 800 South Main, on a zone change request to add 40 acres of additional commercial development on the corner of Church Drive and US HWY 93.

The request by Majestic Valley Arena owners Jan and Bob Parker seeks B-3 county zoning which includes 31 permitted uses including restaurants, hotels, retail sales and services, shopping malls, and more.  The property is right next to the City of Kalispell and the City has submitted comments (click here) opposing this zone change as have we (click here). The Daily Inter Lake in a cover story today notes that "the Parkers plan to retire and want to advertise the property as a development-ready site." Click here for staff report for additional background. The Parkers have also said they want to see the property be developed in an attractive manner that is an asset to the valley---but with the property up for sale, to secure that a better solution is needed.

Adding more commercial highway zoning north of Kalispell and continuing this sprawling creep of commercial uses between Kalispell and Whitefish is not what the public wants ---the Flathead County Growth Policy---discourages this strongly.The Riverdale neighborhood plan that covers development in this area requires (but this has not been done) that a county PUD (planned unit development) application be submitted that details the limited uses planned as opposed to allowing any of some 31 possible uses as merely speculative zoning that does not benefit the city or the county. Careful planning is needed to keep the Flathead an attractive place to visit and the economy strong.

In February the Parkers met with the Kalispell City Council in a work session where a possible solution was proposed. The Parkers told the council they would be willing to submit a PUD and even sign a document binding future developers to the plan. The City Council expressed openness to working with the Parkers for a limited set of uses that could serve the arena's needs.

We're asking the Commissioners work with the City of Kalispell and the Parkers to find a better solution, by tabling this county zone request and directing the Parkers to work with the City of Kalispell for a solution that limits the commercial uses at this site through the PUD process.  You can also send comments for this hearing by clicking here.
.Comments must be received before 9am, April 20th.

Upcoming CBF events - Please plan to attend!

Tuesday, April 19th 5:00-8:00 PM: CBF Pint Night at Kalispell Brewing Co

Thursday, April 21, 7 p.m. This Changes Everything: The Movie. This provocative new movie based on Naomi Klein's book of the same name is an epic attempt to re-imagine the vast challenges and opportunities presented by climate change.  Doors open at 6:30, film at 7 p.m.  Stay for Q&A after the film with Roger Sullivan and Steve Thompson from Glacier Climate Action.   Sponsored by the Whitefish Review and Montana Environmental Information Center. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Saturday, April 23rd 9:00 AM-3:00 PM: Earth Day in the Park at Depot Park in Whitefish - CBF will have a booth and is the main coordinator of this event