Columbia Falls council adopts land use plan after debate on wildlife corridors and public notice

The Columbia Falls City Council voted June 8 to adopt the city’s updated land use plan by approving Resolution 1966 after a presentation by consultants and public comment stressing wildlife protections and stronger public notice.

Nora Bland of Cushing Terrell, the consultant who helped prepare the draft, gave the council an overview of the adoption draft, describing chapters on community values, a Columbia Falls Ahead policy framework, a future land use map and an implementation chapter. She said three opportunity areas were identified: Highway 2 & Half Moon Road (about 95 acres envisioned for regional commercial uses), the Cedar Palace area (about 24 acres proposed as an “innovation flex” designation to buffer industrial neighbors), and the SEFAC/Tettle Heights property (about 314 acres, an EPA Superfund site proposed for a new mixed-density neighborhood).

The plan proposes a range of housing types on SEFAC and states the intent to preserve wildlife corridors where feasible. Bland said, “it’s really exciting to be here tonight on the first reading for the land use plan,” and described the future land use map and opportunity-area analyses that informed the recommendations.

Public commenters praised the outreach but urged stronger protections and clearer public-notice procedures. A representative of the Flag Neighborhood Association told the council the plan was “a strong guide for the future of Columbia Falls” but warned, “we can’t depend on voluntary measures alone to protect” wildlife corridors and asked that the city preserve a 350-meter corridor on the SEFAC site and develop immediate notification for annexation, PUD and subdivision filings. Retired wildlife biologist Steve Gennadec urged more baseline wildlife inventories and offered volunteer help for limited surveys. Mike Burr urged the council to “memorialize in the plan” how the public will be notified when developers submit applications so residents can provide timely input.

Councilors asked staff to clarify how the public will find proposed applications. Staff said a web portal and sign-up/alert feature are being developed and a flowchart of the review and appeal process will be posted. Staff explained that some applications (for example, initial zoning and annexation) will continue to require public hearings, while many subdivision reviews will be administrative with a 15-day public appeal period under the state law.

Council members also pressed on specific land-use choices. Councelor Mara questioned why SEFAC appeared to be the primary opportunity area for housing and suggested Cedar Palace or parts of Highway 2 could also support apartments or mixed use. Staff replied that existing urban residential designations and adjacency to heavy industrial uses inform suitability and buffering decisions and that some commercial land uses do allow mixed use in practice.

On environmental protections, staff said the city does not yet have formal river setbacks but will pursue options this fall and winter, including possible tree-preservation criteria or setbacks in zoning or subdivision regulations. Staff also noted Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) often provides coarse regional data and said the city will pursue more targeted mapping and collaboration where feasible.

After discussion and the public hearing, the council voted on Resolution 1966 to adopt the Columbia Falls land use plan. The motion was made and seconded and the mayor announced the resolution adopted by roll call.

Next steps include finalizing the adoption draft to incorporate certain planning commission suggestions (such as map edits) and continuing work on zoning and subdivision regulations to implement the plan’s policies. The council moved immediately to consider code updates (Title 17 and Title 18) intended to bring municipal regulations into compliance with the state law that governs land-use planning.

What’s next: staff said the city will post a flowchart and application portal and continue outreach with agencies and neighbors as it implements the plan and the associated regulatory changes.