Good afternoon, Beacon readers. Kalispell City councilors are beginning to work through a 187-page document set to become the city’s new Land Use Plan. Under Senate Bill 382 from the 2023 Legislature, the city must institute a new growth policy by May 17 of this year.
Kalispell’s “Plan-It 2045” lays out guidelines for how the growing municipality’s land should be developed. But SB 382 also seeks to eliminate public hearings for cities’ individual site projects, shifting public input instead to the development of the land use plan to streamline the construction process.
That legislation is currently pending review by the Montana Supreme Court, though councilors have said they are concerned about the lack of public involvement should it remain law. I’m Zoë Buhrmaster, here with an update on the planning process.
Monday’s night work session commenced the council’s review, covering the introduction and first three chapters on existing conditions, population projections, community design, and housing.
City staffers are using a projected annual population growth of 2.5%, 0.5% more than the city has historically used in previous land use planning. Assistant Director of Development Services PJ Sorensen said the number is a result of balancing the historical percentage with the in-migration spike the city saw immediately after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The growth generates demand for 9,500 to 10,000 new housing units by 2045, with a need for roughly 475 to 500 new units each year.
If the city’s actual growth varies significantly from the projection, the city can revisit those numbers, Sorensen said. The plan will be reviewed every five years.
Kalispell has nearly 2,500 acres of vacant land inside city limits, which Mayor Ryan Hunter said was “encouraging,” as the land use plan maps out the city’s intent to prioritize infill development.
Councilors also discussed how the plan prioritizes smooth “transitions” in blending existing neighborhoods with new developments, so that tall apartments don’t end up abutting single-family homes, for example.
“This is where you’re managing those expectations so that people have an idea that it could happen,” Councilor Kyle Waterman said. “It’s nice to be able to say we’re looking for that transition, but the reality is state law is saying it’s by right it could happen.”
Councilors also discussed the possibility of data centers in the region. There are none currently planned for Flathead County, as Councilor Sid Daoud pointed out that land prices in Kalispell are higher than places like Butte, where data centers are currently being proposed. Still, councilors cited concerns around the amount of water usage and local resources data centers require and suggested proactively adding something in the plan to broadly address standards for future industry.
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