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Kalispell annexes Ashley Creek parcels to create 36-acre park; council adopts P‑1 zoning
Summary
The council approved annexation and P‑1 public zoning to consolidate roughly 36 acres along Ashley Creek into a contiguous park addition, with staff saying the Bibbler family will privately fund park development and a city MOU covers future incorporation of YTAC land.
The Kalispell City Council voted to annex roughly 25.7 acres and rezone about 10.5 acres to P‑1 public to form an approximately 36‑acre Ashley Creek Park addition.
Planner Donnie McBath described the joint application by Bibler Resources and the city to bring multiple parcels into city limits and set long‑term public park zoning intended to preserve the Ashley Creek corridor and wetlands. McBath said the property was previously developed with industrial uses that have since been removed and that the change would "create a contiguous public park space" and align with the Kalispell Growth Policy.
City staff and the applicant said the initial park development would be privately funded by the Bibbler family; the city has a memorandum of understanding with respect to incorporating parts of YTAC property into the park. Staff noted that utility and emergency services would transition to city jurisdiction upon annexation and that, because the land is expected to remain open space, demands on services should be minimal. Donnie McBath stated the designation "allows for permanent public parkland to conserve natural features like Ashley Creek and the associated wetlands."
Members of the public generally expressed support for the park concept but pressed the council for clarity on long‑term maintenance and whether city tax dollars or a private endowment would fund upkeep. Several residents also asked about safety and homelessness management in parks and the potential effect on nearby schools. Councilors noted that annexation and initial zoning are early steps and that detailed funding and operations plans would come later.
Council approved Resolution 62‑90 to annex the parcels and then adopted Ordinances 19‑43 and 19‑44 to place the property in P‑1 public zoning by roll‑call votes. The actions were framed as the first steps to enable long‑term stewardship and public use while leaving details of operations, maintenance responsibilities and funding to future agreements and project phases.
The annexation and zoning actions create the legal framework for the Ashley Creek Park Addition; next steps include finalizing the MOU details and any future development steps governed by the city’s park planning processes.
