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Columbia Falls planning commission recommends holding back roughly 30% of near‑term sewer capacity and prioritizing infill and multifamily
Summary
After reviewing engineering data and public comment, the Columbia Falls Planning Commission agreed to recommend that the city council prioritize infill, properties adjacent to city services and mixed‑product (multifamily) developments, and to reserve about 30% of the currently available sewer allocation until updated studies arrive.
Columbia Falls planning commissioners on a recorded public meeting reviewed wastewater treatment capacity figures and reached consensus on interim priorities for allocating near‑term sewer service.
City staff presented the technical baseline used for allocation decisions, saying the plant’s design flow is 710,000 gallons per day, which staff translated to a design population of 8,174. Staff reported a current service population of 6,280 and described roughly 1,894 people worth of available allocation that could be committed to new developments. Staff told the commission this is the working number for near‑term allocation decisions while a more detailed study is due in the fall and further planning work is scheduled through March.
Public comments emphasized affordability and caution. Roger Hopkins…
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