Planning commission recommends annexation and CUP for MDT Highway 93 maintenance facility

The Kalispell City Planning Commission voted to recommend annexation and P‑1 public zoning and to approve a conditional use permit for a Montana Department of Transportation maintenance facility at 2905 U.S. Highway 93 North.

The recommendation, adopted by roll call vote, covered file KA25‑02 (annexation and initial zoning) and KCU25‑02 (conditional use permit). The commission approved an amendment to condition 3 to allow a public road and utility easement “in the event that state law prohibits dedication,” and amended condition 6 to require architectural review for screening locations.

City staff described the proposal as an approximately 28,400‑square‑foot building combining equipment storage, mechanics and welding shops, with continued outdoor storage of salt, sand and other maintenance materials on the southern portion of the site. The project would relocate mechanics and welders from the existing Fifth Avenue East facility and consolidate roughly 20 permanent staff at the new site.

“This is really on the efficiency side and the level of service side,” said Justin Juliffs, maintenance chief for the Montana Department of Transportation’s Kalispell office, explaining that the larger site and drive‑through bays would allow covered storage and more timely pre‑ and post‑trip inspections.

The staff report noted the property is inside the city’s annexation boundary, lies adjacent to existing water and sewer, and is designated urban mixed use on the city’s growth policy map. The proposal includes a Quail Lane extension intended to provide local access parallel to Highway 93 and reduce direct approaches onto the highway; staff said that annexation is needed to make that connection available to the city.

Commission discussion focused on screening and access. Staff said the Highway 93 entrance‑corridor standard requires a 100‑foot buffer but allows reduction so it does not cover more than 10% of a property; in this case the buffer is reduced to 59 feet. Staff and the applicant discussed a proposed 60‑foot Quail Lane right of way, a planned 50‑foot site access from Quail Lane, and the possibility that state law could prevent formal dedication of the roadway, prompting the easement amendment.

On screening, the applicant explained that material storage would be concentrated on the south half of the lot and that the existing screening fence would be maintained or reinstalled. “I would envision similar to what’s currently there, chain link fence with the slats in between that,” Juliffs said when asked about fencing and screening. The commission amended the condition to clarify that locations for screening shall be reviewed and approved by the Architectural Review Committee.

Votes at the planning commission roll calls were recorded as follows: Joshua Borgart — yes; Doug Kaufman — yes; Shelby Lechron — yes; Pip Burke — aye; Rory Young — aye; Chad Graham — aye. The motions to recommend annexation (KA25‑02) and to recommend approval of the conditional use permit (KCU25‑02), as amended, passed.

The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Kalispell City Council for final action; staff said the specific design of road reconfiguration and access improvements will be subject to engineering review and approval by both the city and MDT.

Less critical details discussed included on‑site stormwater to be built to city standards, potential need for additional main extensions for hydrants depending on fire review, and that final fencing and landscape buffering will be addressed through the building permit and architectural review process.