Kalispell council sets public hearing on Main Street Safe Streets plan after mixed public comments

The Kalispell City Council voted unanimously Monday to set a public hearing for May 19 on the Main Street concept design and whether to pursue a Safe Streets for All implementation grant.

The hearing follows extensive public comment both supporting and criticizing parts of the plan, including proposed lane reductions, widened sidewalks and snow-removal concerns. Supporters said the design could make downtown more walkable and help local businesses. Opponents warned of construction impacts, reduced access for deliveries and uncertain snow-management plans.

Why it matters: the grant would fund safety and design work on downtown Main Street that proponents say could improve pedestrian and cyclist safety and help revitalize downtown. Council members said a formal hearing will allow the city to collect public input and put concerns on the record before any application decision.

Several downtown business owners and residents spoke during the public-comment period. Amber Roper, owner of Nature Baby Outfitter at 35 South Main, said she supports accepting federal funds to make downtown more “safe and accessible” for families and seniors and to help local businesses. Roper said narrow sidewalks and limited parking make downtown “uninviting” and that reinvestment is needed to prevent more small businesses from closing.

Paul Roybal, who identified himself as an owner of several downtown properties including Stockman Bank and The Lemon Tree, urged the council to separate safety goals from broader revitalization goals and suggested alternative uses of grant funds — for example, installing fire-suppression lines in older downtown buildings so they can be used for restaurants and upstairs housing.

Property owners and long-time residents expressed doubts about lane reductions and wider sidewalks. Dale Harr, a former council member, said years of past Main Street reconstruction were financially painful for merchants and warned that narrowing four lanes to two and expanding sidewalks could stress existing businesses. Ken Yakachek, owner of Depot Park Square, said downtown has not substantially changed since the late 1990s and urged careful consideration before major redesigns.

Speakers raised operational concerns that the council and staff say were addressed in a recent consultant presentation. Councilor Gabrielle encouraged residents to review the consultant work session materials online, saying the meeting addressed snow-removal strategies, sidewalk-width rationale and parking options. Council members and staff repeatedly noted that diagonal parking is not part of the current plan and that the grant can be used only for transportation- and pedestrian-safety-related improvements.

What council said: Council members from both sides of the issue urged residents to attend the May 19 public hearing to record their views. Councilor Hunter said he is interested in hearing more from the public; Councilor Dowd and others pressed residents to review the consultant presentation before the hearing.

Next steps: The council will hold the public hearing May 19, then decide whether to proceed with a grant application. If the city applies and is awarded funds, the grant would be restricted to the stated Safe Streets for All purposes and must be used according to the grant terms.

Provenance: The public comments on Main Street appear in the transcript beginning with Dale Harr’s remarks about Main Street history (transcript block starting at 747.295) and continue through staff and council discussion about setting the public hearing and describing the consultant presentation and snow-removal questions (transcript block at 5592.145).