Kalispell council annexes North Meadows parcel but rejects proposed 99‑unit apartment plan

Kalispell — The City Council voted to annex a 12.13‑acre parcel known as North Meadows and to adopt residential zoning that favors single‑family/duplex development, but the council denied a conditional use permit for a proposed 99‑unit apartment development after more than three hours of public comment and technical testimony.

The action on annexation (Resolution 62‑91) and the zoning ordinance (Ordinance 19‑45, amended on the council floor to R‑4 residential) clears the property to be served by city utilities while blocking the developer’s requested RA‑1/multifamily configuration. The council then voted to deny the conditional use permit for a 99‑unit multifamily project.

Why it matters: Residents said the site’s single access, neighborhood street widths, documented groundwater and drainage problems, and proximity to Ashley Creek and a wildland‑urban interface create unacceptable public‑safety and environmental risk for a high‑density project. Councilors said they wanted a development path that better matches the surrounding single‑family neighborhood and preserves options for trail connections and riparian protection.

City planner Donny McBath presented staff analysis and the planning commission’s recommendation, telling the…