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Kalispell staff previews land‑use plan chapter on services; facility‑plan updates under way
Summary
At a Sept. 9 work session Planning Department staff reviewed draft Chapter 4 (Local Services and Facilities) of the city’s land‑use plan, told commissioners that multiple facility plans are being updated and incorporated by reference, and flagged service issues ranging from EMS billing to water‑system pressure zones and pavement condition.
Planning staff led a work session on Sept. 9 to review draft Chapter 4 (Local Services and Facilities) of Kalispell’s proposed land‑use plan and told the Planning Commission that several infrastructure facility plans are being updated and will be incorporated by reference into the land‑use plan.
Staff said the city’s water facility plan (adopted 2019), sanitary sewer/wastewater plan (2020), and transportation plan (2021) are on the books and currently being updated; staff also said an update to the stormwater facility plan (originally adopted 2008) is under way. The staff presentation referenced additional plan documents and studies by year — a police operations report (2022), a fire/EMS report (2023), a solid‑waste master plan (2024) and a parks master plan (2006) — and noted that updated facility plans will be incorporated by reference so the land‑use plan remains concise while still reflecting technical detail in the facility studies.
On public safety and emergency services staff noted the proposed county jail site on the city’s south side and said future bond or funding decisions related to that project could alter plan language. Staff also highlighted an operational concern: only about one‑third of EMS bills are collected from customers, leaving roughly two‑thirds unpaid, which staff described as a financial issue for EMS service delivery.
On utilities staff said the city now has a third water pressure zone under development tied to growth along Foyes Lake Road, and that some areas still have private systems adjacent to city infrastructure. Staff summarized sewer system statistics used for planning: roughly 150 miles of sanitary sewer mains, about 43 public lift stations and a wastewater treatment plant. Staff emphasized that stormwater regulation in the planning jurisdiction is shaped by the city’s MS4 permit obligations under state law and that stormwater infrastructure and water‑quality concerns are important for redevelopment and new growth.
Transportation issues called out in the draft include growing traffic volumes, a lack of pedestrian and bicycle facilities in some neighborhoods, limited east‑west connections between Oregon Street and Reserve Drive (a long‑standing planning priority), heavy truck traffic on U.S. 93 and a pavement‑condition inventory showing about 145 miles of roadway with 36.8 miles rated as poor or very poor on the pavement condition index. Staff said the transportation plan (adopted 2021) remains relatively current but that the land‑use plan should protect future corridors and identify potential funding sources, including grant partnerships with the Montana Department of Transportation for targeted projects.
Parks and recreation language in the draft notes ongoing updates to the parks master plan and calls out newer facilities such as multipurpose fields associated with a stormwater detention facility and the developing Ashley Creek Park. Staff said trails and ADA access continue to rank high in public outreach and said indoor community recreation space is limited.
Staff repeatedly emphasized that the draft chapters are preliminary and that “we’re not approving any version of this tonight,” and recommended further coordination with police and fire to confirm automatic/mutual‑aid arrangements, ISO rating status, and other operational details before final adoption. The commission did not take formal action; staff said the next Planning Commission meeting is Oct. 14 and noted one agenda item already filed (a proposed jail site on the south end of town). Staff said updated facility plans will be presented as they become available and incorporated into the land‑use plan through future amendments if needed.
Discussion and next steps: Staff will follow up with police and fire to confirm operational details, continue drafting the education chapter and present subsequent chapters (economic development, natural resources, land‑use map and implementation) at future meetings. No final adoption was requested or made at the Sept. 9 session.
