Kalispell council approves annexation, PUD overlay and preliminary plat for Vista Ridge Cottages despite floodplain concerns

The Kalispell City Council voted to annex 15.78 acres and approve a planned unit development overlay and preliminary plat for Vista Ridge Cottages, a proposed 96-unit residential development at 4892 2 Mile Drive.

The project, presented by city staff and developer representatives, calls for 53 detached single-family homes and 43 attached single-family townhome units on roughly 15.8 acres and requests multiple deviations from the RA-1 zoning standards to allow smaller lots, narrower lot widths and higher lot coverage than the base zone permits.

PJ Sorensen, assistant director of development services, told the council the proposal yields about 6.1 units per acre, that city utilities are available nearby and that the developer requests five zoning deviations and one subdivision deviation to achieve a mix of housing types. Sorensen said the developer has proposed 3,200-square-foot minimum lots for single-family units, 1,200-square-foot sublots for townhomes, reduced lot widths, up to 50% lot coverage on small lots and reduced setbacks in places. He said the plan also includes…