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City annexes MDT site on Highway 93 North, approves P-1 zoning and conditional-use permit
Summary
The council unanimously approved annexation of MDT’s property at 2905 Highway 93 North, rezoned it to P-1 public and granted a conditional use permit for a combined maintenance facility that will consolidate mechanics, welding and material storage.
The Kalispell City Council unanimously approved three related actions Monday to allow the Montana Department of Transportation to expand an existing maintenance facility at 2905 Highway 93 North: a resolution to annex the property, a first reading to zone the site P-1 (public), and a conditional-use permit to allow a new combination building.
The actions: Council voted to approve resolution 62-51 to annex Tract 2, Certificate of Survey 8673 into the city, passed ordinance 19-37 on first reading to change zoning from Flathead County SAG-10 to city P-1 public, and approved conditional-use permit KCU-25-02 to permit construction of an approximately 28,400-square-foot building combining equipment storage, mechanics and welding under one roof.
Why it matters: MDT’s plan will relocate mechanics and welding functions from the department’s downtown site to the new facility, consolidate maintenance operations and retain material storage (salt, sand) on the southern portion of the property. The proposal includes a public street extension (Quail Lane) to reduce direct access onto Highway 93 and a 30-foot landscape buffer and a 10-foot path along the highway frontage intended to satisfy entrance-corridor requirements.
Staff presentation: PJ Sorensen, assistant director of development services, described utilities available on three sides of the parcel and said the project’s design includes a 60-foot right-of-way for the Quail Lane extension, sidewalks and a landscape boulevard. Sorensen said MDT indicated legal staff had concerns about dedicating state land to the city and recommended a condition that, if state law prohibits dedication, a public road and utility easement be granted instead; that amendment was recommended by the planning commission and forwarded to council.
Council and commission considerations: Planning staff and the commission recommended maintaining or replacing existing screening fencing and having the Architectural Review Committee review screening locations. Councilors expressed regret the use is not a more aesthetically pleasing future development for that growth corridor but noted MDT has long-term operational needs and has been a reliable neighbor.
Vote and next steps: Each item passed by roll-call vote: annexation (resolution 62-51), zoning ordinance 19-37 (first reading passed), and the conditional-use permit (KCU-25-02) were all approved without recorded opposition. Technical design details (hydrant locations, stormwater, final right-of-way configurations and MDT legal dedication language) will be finalized through engineering and intergovernmental review before construction.
Provenance: The staff presentation and planning details appear in the transcript beginning with a staff handoff to PJ Sorensen (transcript block starting at 3894.7952) and continue through council votes on the annexation, zoning and conditional-use permit (transcript blocks around 4682.655 and 4767.915 and 5027.48).
