Page 9 - Flathead Beacon // 2.18.15

FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS FEBRUARY 18, 2015 | 9 Plans Emerge for Latest Large-Scale
Development in Kalispell
increasing economic
STABILITY
Three Rivers Bank understands the economic stability of the Flathead depends on the growth and development of small businesses.
www.ThreeRiversBankMontana.com
Commercial developers hope to break ground this spring on 28-acre section of land next to Kidsports Complex
By DILLON TABISH of the Beacon
With construction season approach- ing, the latest large-scale commercial development in Kalispell is gaining steam and could quickly transform the section of land surrounding Kidsports Complex with a new lineup of restau- rants and retail stores.
The 28-acre plot along U.S. High- way 93 between the sports complex and Costco is poised to be the next big phase of business construction on the bustling north side of town, further establishing Kalispell as a regional center and ben- efiting Montana’s public schools with added revenues on state trust land.
Developers are seeking to divide the land into 14 parcels, or building pads, that would resemble the layout of the most recent phase of commercial expan- sion involving Cabela’s, Michaels and other adjacent businesses that surfaced up the road over the past two years. That phase of development led to nearly 115,000 square feet of new commercial space.
This latest proposal has similar am- bitions with plans to build four large “anchor” stores and a mixture of dining and retail businesses, according to Kar- en Blumenstein, a local representative for the site developer, Missouri-based TKG Spring Prairie Development Four, LLC, which oversaw the other phases in- volving Cabela’s, Costco and Lowe’s.
This proposal does include a unique feature: a pair of public parks that would connect to the neighboring Kidsports Complex.
Blumenstein presented the prelimi- nary plans for the project to the Ka- lispell Planning Board during a work session Feb. 10. A formal public hearing is scheduled for March 10 at 7 p.m. inside City Hall.
The developers are hoping to break ground this spring and it would not be unreasonable to see the entire phase constructed within two years, according to Blumenstein.
But before TKG can line up tenants and begin construction, the firm needs approval from the city council for four specific items.
The city would need to amend its growth policy because only five of the 28 acres are designated for commer- cial development. The majority of the site was designated “Public and Open Space” when it was first developed in
The site for the proposed Victory Commons development is north of the baseball fields at Kidsports.
GREG LINDSTROM | FLATHEAD BEACON
the late 1990s, when Kidsports Complex was joining the site alongside the former Montana Department of Natural Re- sources and Conservation regional of- fice, which has since moved.
The city would also need to rezone the site from P-1 (Public) to B-5 (Busi- ness), similar to the surrounding com- mercial lots.
To allow flexibility in layout and design of the site, the city would need to implement a planned unit develop- ment overlay zone, which is a regulatory mechanism cities use to maintain a uni- fied vision for larger developments.
Lastly, the developers need subdivi- sion approval for the 14-lot preliminary plat, which ensures the proper infra- structure such as sewer and water are included in the project.
TKG submitted a traffic study of U.S. 93 that supports adding a new traffic light across from the northern-most en- trance into Flathead Valley Community College, roughly one-quarter of a mile from the Grandview-Fourth Mile inter- section.
The developers are also asking the Montana Department of Transporta- tion for two road access points onto U.S. 93 and two access points onto Old Re- serve Drive.
The city’s Public Works Department continues to work with the developers to solve the storm water drainage issue at the site. There is a low point where 90 percent of the lot drains, creating a pond of standing water. TKG is propos- ing to re-grade the entire site and fill this pond. Storm water would then be moved to a retention pond on the southern bor- der of the site.
While grading the site, TKG would improve several fields at Kidsports and create berms around the commercial developments to create a more favorable
view from the complex, Blumenstein. One berm would stretch nine feet high and the other side would reach eight feet high. The site would also include signifi- cant landscaping that would comple- ment Kidsports, Blumenstein said.
“Standing on the baseball fields, you won’t be able to see truck docks or activ- ity on the back of those buildings,” she said.
Blumenstein said she has worked closely with Dan Johns, president of Kidsports, over the last few years for this project. To help acquire a perma- nent easement for its 138-acre site, Kid- sports Complex agreed to give 13 acres to TKG for commercial development in exchange for a portion of the easement price.
The entire complex, including the new commercial development, happens to be part of a one-square-mile section of state school trust land. In cities across the state, sections of land are set aside as revenue sources for public schools. In the last decade, Kalispell’s section of state trust land has changed from an empty alfalfa field into a lucrative com- mercial district. A decade ago, the sec- tion was generating roughly $7,500 an- nually for the state’s school coffers. In fiscal year 2014, commercial leases on Section 36 generated over $5.7 million, according to state data.
“It’s a win-win for everybody,” Blu- menstein said of the new development.
No tenants have formally agreed to move into the site but several franchises that are not already in the valley’s mar- ket have expressed interest, Blumen- stein said.
“This is a great market,” she said. “Our tenants in the Cabela’s center are really happy and really pleased with what the customer base is like.”
[email protected]