Plans are under way to tear down the Sawbuck Saloon in Kalispell and replace it with a new casino and family restaurant.

The Kalispell Planning Board recommended Tuesday that Premier Restaurants LLC be granted a conditional-use permit to operate a casino at that location.

If the City Council approves that recommendation, the saloon's demolition likely will occur in May, according to architect Jeff Maphis of Missoula-based JCM Architecture.

The Sawbuck Saloon has operated a bar, restaurant and casino near the V-shaped intersection of Main Street and First Avenue West for 14 years.

Premier wants to build an 8,700-square-foot Montana Club restaurant, bar and casino at the same location -with the family-style restaurant being the biggest feature.

Maphis speculated it would open in spring 2010.

An updated conditional-use permit is needed for Premier to operate a casino.

The casino is to be on the south side of the restaurant -the farthest spot away from neighboring homes.

Premier has two Montana Club restaurants in Missoula and recently opened one in Butte.

Also Tuesday, the Planning Board:

n Recommended that the council approve a conditional-use permit for Mark Waatti to set up an assisted-living facility able to house eight elderly people on the east side of Fifth Avenue West between First Street West and Second Street West.

n Told the city staff to proceed with plans to identify neighborhood issues among 60 blocks of central Kalispell.

The staff's next step is to organize neighborhood meetings to get that feedback.