Kalispell council opens public hearing on Reserve at Johnson Ranch growth‑policy amendment amid safety and infrastructure objections

The City of Kalispell opened a public hearing July 21 on a proposed growth‑policy amendment to create a neighborhood business and high‑density residential node at the northwest corner of Old Reserve Drive and Stillwater Road, including property at 1053 Stillwater Road. Council members accepted public comment and scheduled the item to return to the council agenda on Aug. 4 for further consideration.

Residents who spoke at the hearing urged the council to deny or pause the amendment, citing traffic safety near West Valley School, existing gravel‑pit and industrial activity on Stillwater Road, and limited local infrastructure and emergency‑services capacity. Bob White, who said he grew up on Stillwater Road, told the council the proposal would “slam 500 living units into an already desperately…