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Commission reviews draft land‑use plan chapter on services, flags facility plan updates
Summary
In a Sept. 9 work session the Kalispell Planning Commission reviewed Chapter 4 of a draft land use plan covering public safety, utilities, transportation, parks and other local services; staff emphasized facility plans (water, sewer, transportation, stormwater) will be incorporated by reference and updated before final adoption.
During a Sept. 9 work session immediately following the regular meeting, Kalispell planning staff walked commissioners through Chapter 4 (Local Services and Facilities) of a draft land use plan that will be incorporated into the city’s growth policy. Staff described Chapter 4 as an organizational chapter linking shorter chapter language to detailed facility plans (water, sanitary sewer, transportation, stormwater, police operations, and fire/EMS) that are being updated and incorporated by reference rather than fully reproduced in the land use plan text.
Staff highlighted several items the chapter calls out for future action or monitoring: jail capacity and a proposed jail on the south side of town (possible bond measure consideration), public safety staffing and coordination, the city’s ISO rating work for fire protection, and a concern that about two‑thirds of EMS bills currently go unpaid. On utilities, staff said the city now has three pressure zones with a third under development to serve new growth near Foyes Lake Road, emphasized water rights and looped systems for redundancy, and noted PFAS monitoring and treatment belong in facility plan updates rather than the chapter text. Staff reported roughly 150 miles of sanitary sewer and about 43 public lift stations and recommended continuing efforts to connect septic properties to city sewer where feasible.
On transportation, staff said the 2021 transportation plan remains generally applicable and does not require immediate revision, but called out growing traffic volumes, gaps in pedestrian and bicycle facilities, limited grid connectivity and truck traffic on Highway 93 as ongoing issues. System statistics cited by staff include roughly 145 miles of roadway in the city and about 36.8% of pavement rated poor or very poor on the pavement condition index, which staff said points to capital maintenance and funding needs. Parks and recreation topics included underfunded renovations, a lack of indoor public recreation space, and an ongoing parks master plan update (last completed in 2006); staff noted new multiuse fields associated with a stormwater detention project near Starling.
Staff said the chapter follows a consistent format—issues, goals, policies and recommendations—and that detailed facility plans (some adopted between 2019 and 2024) will be incorporated by reference and updated via growth policy amendments as necessary. Commissioners did not take formal action on the chapter; staff said they will follow up with police and fire departments to confirm ISO and mutual aid details and will continue chapter reviews at the next work session, scheduled for Oct. 14, when the annexation/jail item will also appear on the agenda.
