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Kalispell council annexes North Meadows tract but rejects 99‑unit apartment permit after neighborhood outcry
Summary
Council approved annexation of the North Meadows property but amended zoning to R‑4 and denied a conditional use permit for a 99‑unit apartment project after weeks of public comment raising traffic, drainage, wildfire and school‑capacity concerns.
The Kalispell City Council voted to annex a 12.13‑acre parcel south of Bluestone Drive but stopped short of allowing the developer’s proposed 99‑unit apartment complex, approving R‑4 residential zoning and denying the requested conditional use permit on procedural and neighborhood‑compatibility grounds.
Supporters of the annexation said bringing the property into city limits will align the site with city planning and utility service; opponents urged the council to reject high‑density multifamily at a location they described as underserviced by sidewalks, subject to drainage problems and at risk in a wildfire scenario. After extensive public comment the council amended the zoning from the applicant’s requested RA‑1 (residential apartment) to R‑4 (single‑family/two‑unit) and then voted to deny the CUP tied to the multifamily plan.
Councilor Ryan Hunter and other members said public safety and environmental buffers were central to their decision, while planning staff and the project engineer said the technical reports submitted met current city standards.
“This project does not address the urgent need for low income housing in this region,” said Patrick Hawkins, a Rankin Elementary staff member who spoke during public comment, arguing the…
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