Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Conditional Use Permit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission recommends conditional‑use permit for accessory casino inside proposed downtown restaurant at 214 S. Main
Summary
Commission recommended approval of a conditional‑use permit to allow a small accessory casino area within a proposed Mountain Prime restaurant at 214 South Main Street; staff said the gaming area (959 sq ft) is incidental to the restaurant and below the 20% accessory‑use threshold.
The Kalispell Planning Commission recommended approval June 10 of a conditional use permit to allow an accessory casino within a proposed full‑service restaurant and bar at 214 South Main Street (file KCUDash25Dash03).
Planner Donnie McBath (Planner II) told commissioners the project would adaptively reuse an existing roughly 11,068‑square‑foot downtown building; 959 square feet of that area is proposed for gaming. Under B‑4 Central Business zoning, restaurants and bars are permitted uses, but casino gaming requires a conditional use permit. Staff described the gaming space as incidental and subordinate to the restaurant, to be fully enclosed with permanent walls and a standard door, with no exterior signage referencing gaming. The application includes interior renovations only; no exterior modifications were proposed. Staff also noted the B‑4 zone exempts the project from on‑site parking requirements and said the site is well supported by public parking and walkable infrastructure in downtown Kalispell.
Staff recommended approval with conditions that preserve the accessory nature of the gaming area, restrict signage referencing gaming, and require all applicable permits and licenses. Commissioners discussed concerns about casinos in downtown but noted the benefit of activating a vacant building. No members of the public spoke during the public comment period on this item.
On a recorded roll call the commission adopted the staff report and recommended approval of the conditional use permit to the City Council, subject to the conditions in the staff report.
